Colombia Removes Penalties for Drug Possession and Prohibits Police to Confiscating Three Substances

The Colombian government under Gustavo Petro has abolished penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs so that police can focus on prosecuting major players in the cocaine industry rather than punishing consumers.

This change does not affect penalties of up to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking offenses, as under Colombian law, but it eliminates the $50 fines that police had been imposing on consumers. The decree also removes the police’s right to confiscate these substances

Senator María José Pizarro, who is in charge of the cannabis bill in her chamber, is seeking full consideration of the legislation on Tuesday. If lawmakers fail to act, the reform is in danger of “sinking again.” The last day of this year’s session is Dec. 16, which means the Senate has until Saturday to approve the bill.

For his part, Rep. Juan Carlos Losada, who supports legalizing cannabis in the House of Representatives, noted the need for more arguments and less bias in the debate. He said that better information leads to better decisions and is open to a dignified debate on the issue.

Meanwhile, President Petro issued an executive order that eliminates the $50 fine for possession of small amounts of drugs and prevents police from confiscating them, expanding on a broader decriminalization policy previously introduced by a Constitutional Court ruling. Pizarro and Losado, the initiators of the cannabis legalization law, also commented on this drug policy reform.

Gustavo Petro has spearheaded a change of approach in the fight against drugs, which Colombia is undertaking with financial support from the United States, where the main market for Colombia’s cocaine customers is located. He also ordered security forces to cease operations against small producers of coca leaves.

Read more about Colombia and its cannabis law and find the latest cannabis news of the day with the Born2Invest mobile app.

Planned legalization of cannabis in Colombia

Parallel to this decriminalization of all drugs, Colombian parliamentarians are running a race against time to pass a bill legalizing cannabis before the end of the year, preventing a restart of the two-year legislative process.

Senator María José Pizarro, one of the main proponents of the cannabis legalization bill, is stressing the urgency for the Senate to act before the scheduled legislative recess. The bill has passed three of the required eight debates, receiving approval from the House of Representatives and a Senate committee. However, to avoid restarting the lengthy legislative process, it must be passed by the Senate by December 16. Senator Pizarro points out that if action is not taken, the reform could once again “sink”, necessitating quick consideration in the plenary.

Although the legalization of cannabis almost came to fruition this year, the process had to be restarted due to the rejection of the last Senate vote. Justice Minister Néstor Osuna, commenting on the arguments made at the Senate hearing, criticized the effects of the “failed war” on drugs, which has lasted for decades and led to bloodshed, armed conflict and criminal activity.

Revolutionary changes in Colombia’s drug policy, from the elimination of penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs to the legalization of cannabis, point to a new course in the fight against drugs. This approach has the potential to bring significant changes in both social and health contexts.

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(Featured image by Brandon Nickerson via Pexels)

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First published in Fakty Konopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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