Colombia fully legalises medical marijuana

Medical marijuana emerged from a legal gray area in Colombia on Tuesday, as President Juan Manuel Santos signed a new law regulating its production.

Marijuana is seen in a jar at Perennial Holistic Wellness Center medical marijuana dispensary, which opened in 2006, on July 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

“We have just taken an important step to place Colombia in the vanguard of the fight against disease and we’re doing it via a decree that seeks to take advantage of the benefits of cannabis to improve people’s lives”, Santos said during a ceremony where he was accompanied by Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria.

The reproduction of the story/photograph in any form will be liable for legal action. This is huge news for the suffering patients of Colombia, and also is big news for other reform efforts in other nations, as it will increase the momentum of reform.

But it remains a top producer of illegal drugs, particularly cocaine.

The South American country suspended spraying of illicit crops this year, citing cancer concerns related to the herbicide glyphosate.

“The decree allows licenses for possession of cannabis seeds, of marijuana, and its planting exclusively for medical and scientific purposes, again exclusively for medical and scientific purposes”, Santos said.

Colombia has always been identified with U.S.-backed policies to eradicate narcotics production and a sharp decline in levels of violence over the past 15 years is largely attributed to the no-tolerance policing.

In November, it was reported that the New Colombia Resources’ subsidiary, Sannabis SAS, will be a part of the country’s new framework. The company aspires to lead the manufacturing of medical marijuana products in the country.