A conservative Peruvian Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the country. Specifically, the bill passed with a 68-5 vote, which will allow cannabis oil to be produced, as well as imported and commercialized.
Ruling party lawmaker Alberto Belaunde told Reuters that within 60 days they will write the necessary regulations for cannabis oil production and commercialization.
The move was predicated following a police crackdown of a group of Peruvian mothers were discovered in a makeshift laboratory creating cannabis oil. The mothers were doing so to treat their epileptic children, and reported the oil’s effectiveness. President Pedro Pablo Kucynski proposed the measure, following an outpouring of public sympathy for the mothers.
-
Related Story: An Essential Guide To Uruguay’s Marijuana Laws
Thousands of patients and their family members will have hope and a better quality of life,” Belaunde told Reuters.
Peru now joins its Chile and Colombia who also legalized medical marijuana within their countries. Uruguay, meanwhile, is the only country in South America to fully legalize marijuana for all uses. You can read more about the rules governing Uruguay’s recreational marijuana program here.
