A proposal to legalize and regulate marijuana in Colombia has cleared its first legislative hurdle, with a House committee voting Tuesday to advance the measure.

The bill, filed by Representative Alejandro Ocampo, was approved by the First Committee of the House of Representatives, sending it to the full chamber for consideration. If the full House gives the measure approval, it would then move to the Senate.

The proposal would establish a legal, regulated and taxed marijuana market in Colombia, with rules covering production, distribution and sales. Ocampo said the goal is to move marijuana out of the illicit market and into a licensed system with age verification and government oversight.

“We just approved the regulation of cannabis in the first debate”, said Rep. Ocampo. “It’s time to regulate. We’re going to regulate everything from seed to finished product. We’re going to keep marijuana off the streets so that it can only be sold in places where you have to show your ID, have a permit, and have a license.”