Colombia’s Senate has voted 56 to 3 to pass a constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana for all adults.
“Historic plenary approval of the project to regularize #CannabisDeUsoAdulto in its fourth debate”, said Senator María José Pizarro Rodríguez in a translated Twitter post following the vote. “We made progress in changing the country’s drug policy.”
If signed into law by President Gustavo Petro as expected, it would amend Article 49 of the country’s constitution to offer “the right of the free development of the personality, allowing citizens to decide on the consumption of cannabis in a regulated legal framework.” The amendment would also establish regulations and taxes for legal cannabis sales, and organize how to divide revenue between local cities, as well as health, education, and agriculture departments.
“Today is a HISTORIC day”, said Chamber Representative Juan Carlos Losada. who sponsored the measure. “With the leadership of @PizarroMariaJo and Article a @SenadoGovCo more progressive and liberal we achieved approval in the 4th debate of the project that regulates #CannabisDeUsoAdulto. A huge step to advance a new drug policy”.
The bill moved on to the Senate after the First Commission of the House of Representatives passed it on Octover 11 by a vote of 105 to 33.
