A group of lawmakers in Chile has introduced legislation that would legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana for those 18 and older, marking a significant step toward reforming the country’s cannabis laws.
The measure, filed Wednesday by the Regulation for Peace group, proposes a legal framework for personal possession, cultivation, and private use of marijuana by adults. The goal, according to proponents of the bill, is to reduce harm, support public health, protect children, and encourage scientific research.
Under the proposed law, adults would be allowed to grow up to six flowering marijuana plants for personal use, or the equivalent in indoor cultivation covering no more than two square meters. Individuals could store up to 800 grams annually.
The legislation would also allow collective cultivation through non-profit associations of up to 500 members, with distribution capped at the same limits as personal cultivation. Public possession of up to 40 grams would be allowed, though public consumption would remain banned. Use would be restricted to private spaces, with explicit bans on consumption near minors, in public transport, on public roads, and inside schools or healthcare centers, except in cases of medically authorized use.
The proposal would ban the distribution of marijuana or marijuana products to anyone outside an authorized organization.
The bill is backed by several prominent lawmakers, including Ana María Gazmuri, Jorge Brito, Héctor Ulloa, Carolina Tello, Karol Cariola, Tomás Hirsch, and Leonardo Soto. Supporters say the legislation would align Chile with countries like Uruguay, Canada, and Germany, which have already enacted regulated marijuana markets.
Gazmuri, who leads the proposal, said the reform is necessary to shift the focus of law enforcement away from criminalizing consumers and toward combating organized crime. Advocates argue that providing legal access to marijuana will reduce the influence of drug traffickers and free up law enforcement resources for more serious crimes.
