Peru’s conservative leadership legalizes medical marijuana
Published: Oct 20, 2017, 7:03 pm • Updated: Oct 20, 2017, 7:03 pm
By The Associated Press
LIMA, Peru — Peru has become the latest country in Latin America to allow the medicinal use of marijuana.
The nation’s conservative congress voted 67-5 late Thursday to approve legislation allowing the drug to be produced, imported and sold.
Related stories
- Legal marijuana sales in Uruguay face challenges from banks
- Paraguay’s booming marijuana export traffic attracting gangs and violence
- Legal cannabis sales begin in Uruguay under landmark 2013 law
- Chile starts medical cannabis pilot program
- Uruguay opens registry for world’s first government-run marijuana market
Lawmakers praised the move as a way to improve the lives of thousands of patients looking to better their quality of life.
The legislation has the backing of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.
Chile and Colombia also allow medical marijuana, while Uruguay in 2013 became the first Latin America nation to allow recreational use of the drug.
Topics: medical marijuana, medical marijuana legalization, peru, South America
