Chile President Michelle Bachelet has signed a decree officially and immediately removing cannabis from the nation’s list of hard drugs, which includes substances such as heroin and cocaine.

The decree also legalizes the distribution of cannabis-based medicines, such as tablets and tinctures, to be sold at pharmacies.

In July^[1], Chile’s lower house of Congress voted 68 to 39 to pass legislation – introduced by Bachelet – that would legalize the possession, use, cultivation and transportation of recreational cannabis. The law, which would allow for the possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis, and the personal cultivation of up to six plants, has yet to be advanced out of the nation’s Senate.

Chile began cultivating medical cannabis in October, 2014, as part of a pilot program to determine if the plant can be useful in easing the pain of cancer patients.

– TheJointBlog

References

1. ^{^} In July (thejointblog.com)