Latin America
Related: About this forumColombia to Decriminalize Ecstasy, Meth
Drug War Chronicle / By Phillip Smith
Colombia to Decriminalize Ecstasy, Meth
Colombian Minister for Justice and Law said Wednesday the government will propose decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of synthetic drugs
February 5, 2013 |
Colombian Minister for Justice and Law Ruth Stella Correa said Wednesday that the government will propose decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of synthetic drugs, such as ecstasy and methamphetamine, according to local press accounts. She added that a drug policy advisory commission would revise the country's drug law and present the proposal to congress.
Correa's remarks came as she announced the formation of the advisory commission.
Currently in Colombia, people are not prosecuted for the possession of small amounts of marijuana and cocaine. She said the proposal would extend that protection to users of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and ecstasy.
"The proposal aims to standardize the amount of drugs already permitted, while also allowing an equivalent quantity of synthetic drugs," she said. "We have to accept that Colombia is a consumer country -- this is also our reality -- and being a consumer country, we can't just throw drug users in jail, but we must look after them. I don't see the risk in establishing a personal use amount of synthetic drugs, since we are only trying to clarify things to achieve treatment for addicts and users, not to send them to prison."
More:
http://www.alternet.org/colombia-decriminalize-ecstasy-meth
flamingdem
(39,313 posts)Call Strawberry Alarm clock, they might get a gig in Cartagena!
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)let's hope venezuela and ecuador get on board with Colombia and Guatemala and free Latin America from the shackles of drug war imperialism