Colombian lawmakers have recently given initial approval to a nationwide marijuana legalization bill. The First Committee of the House of Representatives last week reviewed and passed the proposal introduced by Representative Alejandro Ocampo, clearing the first procedural hurdle before it is brought to the full chamber for debate.
Because the bill involves a constitutional amendment, the legislative process will be particularly strict and is expected to take two years. Both the House and the Senate must approve it in two consecutive sessions, requiring a total of eight votes. In fact, Congress nearly passed a similar bill in 2023, but it stalled at the final stage in the Senate, forcing supporters to restart the lengthy process later that year.
The reintroduced bill seeks to amend the Constitution to recognize and guarantee “the fundamental rights to the free development of personality, privacy, health, equality, and non-discrimination.”
A report submitted to the First Committee stated: “It is clear that a constitutional reform allowing medicinal, scientific, and adult uses of cannabis and its derivatives is not only pertinent but also necessary to address the contradictions and inconsistencies that persist in our legal system today. Furthermore, Colombia must join the current global positions that have found, in the decriminalization and legalization of possession and consumption, much more effective strategies for addressing the so far unsuccessful fight against drugs.”
According to Infobae, the text approved by the committee explicitly establishes that adults will hold a constitutional right to possess cannabis. Commercial sales would also be allowed, “provided that the licenses and/or authorizations granted by the competent authority are obtained, without prejudice to personal cultivation authorized by law,” the text of the legislation says.
It also stipulates that advertising marijuana products would be prohibited, “except for campaigns aimed at preventing consumption and those of an informative and educational nature in restricted media, aimed at audiences of legal age.”Public consumption would also remain banned.
The bill further requires the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to issue regulations within six months of enactment to ensure public safety and promote cannabis education. In addition, local municipalities would be authorized to levy a tax on marijuana sales in addition to the national sales tax, with revenues designated to support healthcare and education. Congress would also play a role in overseeing territorial tax policies.
The bill’s report stated: “The Colombian Congress has an invaluable opportunity to promote the comprehensive development of its territories and strengthen education, public health, and the country’s human rights approach.Regulating adult-use cannabis will not only open new avenues for economic progress in various regions but will also channel resources toward health and education systems, which are fundamental to social well-being.”
“This initiative represents a decisive step toward modernizing public policies, aligning Colombia with international trends that have proven effective in reducing crime and violence associated with the illegal drug market. By regulating adult-use cannabis, progress is being made in protecting fundamental rights and building a more just and safe environment for all Colombians.”
- The news is soured from Marijuana Moment
Post time: Aug-28-2025
