Cannabis Legalization in Latin America

Cannabis Legalization in Latin America

Exploring cannabis prohibitions and advancements in Latin Countries

As the cannabis industry continues to boom, legislations are becoming more hip to decriminalizing and legalizing recreational as well as medical cannabis. Economic publications project the cannabis industry to break the $200 billion mark sooner than later. However, these figures exclusively belong to the US and Canada. Logically, the $200 billion milestone can be shattered as cannabis becomes more commonplace across the globe. One populace that is becoming more green-friendly is Latin America. For the last decade, several Latin American countries have taken steps to decriminalize and even legalize the use of cannabis in their country respectively. Here is the state of cannabis decriminalization and legalization in a few Latin countries. 

Legalization in Argentina

One Latin country that has shown advancements in abolishing cannabis prohibition is Argentina. Less than a week ago, Argentina passed a statute that will allow residents to grow cannabis in their home for medicinal purposes. Before this law, there only existed a prevision that allowed patients who suffered from epilepsy to obtain (low-THC) cannabis oil. Argentina is only 8 months removed from their most recent pro-legalization rally held in Buenos Aires.

The State of Cannabis in Brazil

Brazil is another country in Latin America that has shown promise in making cannabis accessible to its residents. In 2015, Brazil passed a law that allowed cannabis-based substances to be commercialized. Despite these steps towards legalization, the decriminalization of cannabis in Brazil has been stagnant. There is a multitude of laws surrounding cannabis and felonies that are currently on the books. Although these laws are becoming less enforced, removing them is a step in the right direction towards decriminalizing cannabis in Brazil. 

Cannabis Laws in Colombia

Colombia is one of the Latin American countries that got in front of cannabis legalization and decriminalization earlier than their counterparts. Thanks to a statute dating back to 1994, Colombia’s supreme court ruled that cannabis possession should not be deemed a criminal offense. Residents of Colombia are allowed possession of up to 20 grams of cannabis. Individuals who possess more than the mandated 20 grams rarely receive tickets. Instead, they are referred to services that can assist with combating addictive substances.

How Cannabis affects Ecuador

Ecuador is a country that has set an example for governments indecisive on abolishing cannabis prohibition. In 2008, the country went as far as updating their original constitution that makes drug possession a health concern versus a criminal offense. Individuals are allowed up to 10 grams of cannabis without it being criminal.

Legalization of Cannabis in Mexico

Mexico is a country that was the second fiddle to the original cannabis prohibition and propaganda of the early 1900s. In conjunction with the United States, the two countries spent hundreds of millions on eradicating wildly-grown cannabis. These acts surely made some strains virtually extinct. However, Mexico is trying to right their wrong a century later. For a few years, a small populace of residents have had access to medical cannabis. Moreover, Mexico is slated to allow the recreational use of cannabis in less than a month. Publications are expecting to learn the status of recreational cannabis in Mexico no later than December 15, 2020.

The Climate and Cannabis Culture in Latin America

There are a multitude of Latin American countries that are making news for their recent pro-cannabis legislations. Some countries like Mexico and Argentina are even slated to allow the use of recreational cannabis for their residents within the next month. Other countries, such as Ecuador, are addressing the health concerns surrounding the abuse of cannabis. More countries in Latin America are expected to follow suit as it will help deter the issues associated with cannabis and the black market.