Peru Legalizes Medical Marijuana

Peru’s congress legalized medical marijuana on October. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski supported the measure.

Of 70 lawmakers, 64 voted in favor with four against and two abstaining. The decision comes seven months after Kuczynski initially proposed a project to legalize medical marijuana.

The president’s initial proposal came after police raided a home-grown cannabis oil production facility run by mothers of children suffering from epilepsy. Kuczynski’s proposal, however, did not provide for the production of domestic marijuana production. Several pro-cannabis groups such as Buscando Esperanza criticized this shortcoming, claiming that import prices would bar many patients from receiving treatment.

The recently passed bill permits the production of marijuana in Peru with government oversight. While the official regulations for domestic cultivation have yet to be finalized not been hashed out,  Congressman Alberto Belaunde hopes to complete the framework within 60 days..

The vast majority of lawmakers have praised the bill the bill as a milestone for Peru’s health policy. However, the opposition remains wary of the spread of drugs. Peru is currently the world’s second largest exporter of cocaine, and many fear that drug cartels will enter into the marijuana trade in the wake of this bill.

The bill’s authors includesd a number of anti-abuse measures. . A committee has been assigned towith gathering all patients eligible for treatment with cannabis products. This includes people suffering from cancer, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and muscle spasms.