Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper officially introduced a bill last Thursday to prepare the United States for the federal legalization of cannabis.

The presentation of this text roughly coincides with the tenth anniversary of the vote of his native state, Colorado, in favor of the legalization of cannabis for adult use.

The PREPARE law for Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act (Effectively Preparing Regulators for a Regulated Post-Prohibition Environment for Adults) would ask the Attorney General to create a commission to make recommendations on a cannabis regulatory system that builds on what is currently in place for the alcohol.

“Ten years after Colorado pioneered the legalization of cannabis, Americans overwhelmingly support the same at the federal level,” John Hickenlooper said in a press release. “This bipartisan, bicameral framework, based on Colorado’s Amendment 64 Task Force, will replicate our success nationally. »

A decade after Colorado pioneered marijuana legalization, Americans overwhelmingly support the same at the federal level.

Our PREPARE Act will create a bipartisan, bicameral framework, based on Colorado’s Amendment 64 Task Force, and will replicate our success nationally.

— Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) December 2, 2022

The measure is identical to a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that Representatives Dave Joyce, Hakeem Jeffries and Brian Mast introduced in April.

“I am thrilled that the PREPARE Act has been introduced in the Senate, which not only makes it even more bipartisan, but bicameral, and brings it one step closer to being law,” Joyce said Thursday. “This legislation gives lawmakers on both sides of the aisle the answers they need to effectively engage in cannabis reform, regulate it safely and effectively, and address the harm caused by the failed war on cannabis. . »

“With these responses, Congress can develop a much-needed federal regulatory framework that not only respects each state’s unique needs, rights, and laws, but also ensures a responsible end to Prohibition and a safer future for our communities.” I was proud to lead the introduction of this common sense bill into the House and I thank Senator Hickenlooper for pushing it forward in the Senate. I look forward to continuing to work with him and my fellow Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs in the House to pave the way for more comprehensive reform. »

Although Senator Hickenlooper voiced his opposition to the legalization of cannabis in Colorado in 2012 when he was governor, he has since acknowledged that many of his fears about ending Prohibition have not materialized, particularly regarding cannabis use among young people. And he is now a strong advocate for reform at the federal level.

According to the new Leafly report Cannabis Harvest Report 2022 published last month, cannabis prices in the United States have plummeted despite a year of historic inflation.

Adult cannabis growers in the United States grew 554 tons more cannabis in 2022 than the previous year. Yet the value of the harvest has dropped by a billion dollars. Large-scale farming and the rise in crop technology, for example, have driven wholesale prices to historic lows in Colorado. Grams of flowers can be sold for $4 in Oregon.

How much legal weed does the US grow?

According to the second annual report Cannabis Harvest Report 2022, adult cannabis cultivators produced 2,834 tons of cannabis last year in the United States. Cannabis is thus placed behind corn, soybeans, straw, wheat and cotton as the 6th commercial crop in the United States.

According to federal usage surveys, that 2,834 tons represents only about a quarter of Americans’ annual cannabis demand.

Growers in the western United States have apparently grown too much over the past year. Meanwhile, farmers in the Midwest and East have not grown enough to meet their region’s demand. Due to federal prohibition, licensed farmers cannot sell across national borders. But the illicit market does. This dynamic hurts legal farmers in the West, while overcharging customers in the Midwest and East Coast. Residents of Illinois and Maine, for example, pay some of the highest prices for cannabis in the country. People in Colorado, Oregon and California pay some of the lowest prices.

Our results suggest Congress needs to do the will of 68% of voters and send cannabis reform bills to President Biden this year. Americans want to vote with their dollars for crafted, sustainable, long-lived cannabis, but they can’t yet.

Several dozen farmers shared their experiences with Leafly, reflecting the regional booms and busts in this evolving field. Small farms would therefore have a much harder time maintaining a healthy financial course than large companies.

“Prices this year have never been so low and honestly that is quite tragic for all the small artisanal farmers. Many people will not be able to afford to run their farm. Our community as a whole is in a bad financial situation,” explained Jason Gellman of Ridgeline Farms, yet one of the winners of the Emerald Cup 2021.

According to Gallup, about 68% of Americans are willing to end federal cannabis prohibition and move to a regulated system.

Last month, 20 cannabis companies from several countries sent an open letter to the European Commission. The translation of the letter, spotted by CannabisIndustrie, can be read below.

The letter was signed, among others, by Hanfverband, one of the German pro-legalization associations, but also by companies active in the medical cannabis market in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Czech Republic or Switzerland. No French or Dutch company signed the letter.

Together with other representatives of the #cannabisindustry & #associationswe signed an #OpenLetter to the members of the #EuropeanCommission. #cannabislegalisierung #legalization #cannabis pic.twitter.com/TrxA8Gwzj1

— Sanity Group (@SanityGroupEU) November 17, 2022

Letter to the European Commission

Towards a “New European Drugs Market” – Fostering Member States’ reform efforts to develop effective drug policies.

Dear Members of the European Commission,

We, representatives of the European cannabis industry and associations, take note of the fact that internationally a progressive approach to the use of cannabis for adult use has prevailed for several years. In the European Union, a growing number of Member States, including Malta, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, are beginning to reform their old prohibitive drug policies in a way that is geared towards real effectiveness, which makes it possible to put in place a new political framework for Cannabis covering all situations of use.

More recently, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany presented a document on the key points by which it intends to transform the market for cannabis for adult use, previously illegal, into a regulated framework. These reforms in no way contradict the global objectives of improving health protection. We would therefore like the European Commission to carry out a thorough and timely assessment of the capacities of European drug policy within the framework of the global drug control conventions. By sharing the German interpretation of these conventions, the Commission will enable Member States to pursue forward-looking drug policies to achieve the intentions of our global drug control conventions much more effectively than previous attempts to general prohibition.

For a long time, the cultivation, distribution and consumption of cannabis have been sought to be curtailed by prohibitive and repressive drug policies. As a result, the consumption, availability and THC content of cannabis on the unregulated illicit market has increased, while different contaminations continue to pose an unpredictable threat to the health of EU citizens. Finally, the failure of drug policies in recent decades has allowed organized crime to generate billions of dollars in revenue year after year.

Germany’s proposal aims to effectively protect youth and health and tackles the immediate weaknesses of the old prohibition paradigm, such as the expansion of the illicit market and the spread of contaminated substances. The aim of this approach is therefore in line with the objective of the 1961 and 1988 UN Conventions against trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and the objectives of the EU Drugs Strategy for 2021-2025.

Protecting health and strengthening health culture are at the heart of the concerns of the European Union and its Member States. We therefore see the current German approach as an important signal to move towards an urgent reform of European drug policy. In the perspective of such a “European New Drug Deal”, the balance between public health, law enforcement and the market economy is crucial to play a leading role at the international level.

In this global effort to build a new consensus, the Commission can count on the support of all stakeholders. We, the various European cannabis associations and industries, are constantly working to increase research and knowledge sharing within the epistemic community. We see ourselves as a resource for evidence-based policy making and are an ideal partner for consulting and evaluating topics. We are convinced that the European Commission will support all efforts aimed at reinforcing a paradigm shift in drug policy.

Please accept, Madam, Sir, the expression of my distinguished sentiments,

• Tom Broockmann (Managing Director), ADREXpharma GmbH, Germany
• Tej Virk (Managing Director and CEO), Akanda Corp, UK
• Lars Erik Råen (CEO), Balancial AS, Denmark
• Dr. rer. dr. David Surjo (CCDO), Canify AG, Germany
• Stefan Jacker (COO), CanPharma GmbH, Germany
• loana Freise (Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs), Cansativa GmbH, Germany
• Jan Simon (CEO), CZ Pharma sro, Czech Republic, Germany
• Dr Constantin von der Groeben (Managing Director), DEMECAN GmbH, Germany
• Thomas Schatton (CEO), Four 20 Pharma GmbH, Germany
• Oliver Schultz (CCO), Grünhorn, Germany
• Šárka Betke (General Manager) High Five Group sro, Czech Republic
• Richard Balla (CEO), IMC adjupharm GmbH, Germany
• Michal Drdák (Commercial Manager), Lagom Pharmatech sro, Czech Republic
• Jonathan Lubosch-Haenisch (CEO), iuvo Therapeutics GmbH, Germany
• Georg Wurth (CEO), Deutsche Hanfverband, Germany
• dr. med. Jaschar Kermany (CEO), Kineo Medical GmbH, Germany
• Nick Pateras (Managing Director), Materia Global, UK
• Antonia Menzel (Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Spokesperson) Sanity Group GmbH, Germany
• Luc Richner (co-founder and CEO), Vigia AG, Switzerland
• Börge Diessel (Managing Director), WEECO Pharma GmbH, Germany

US President Joe Biden has officially signed a cannabis research bill into law. He thus made history by enacting the first stand-alone federal piece of cannabis reform legislation in the United States.

The bill passed the House of Representatives in July and the Senate last month. A White House spokesperson had confirmed to Marijuana Moment that the president intended to sign him. That’s what he did on Friday.

The United States Attorney General now has 60 days to either approve the request or request additional information before the text becomes law.

Among the many provisions, the text creates a more efficient route for researchers requesting larger quantities of cannabis.

The US president remains opposed to the federal legalization of cannabis, but he has campaigned on a number of smaller reforms around cannabis, including promoting research, decriminalizing and reclassifying cannabis as a controlled substance ( Controlled Substances Act, CSA).

In October, Joe Biden also pardoned Americans en masse for federal cannabis possession offenses and ordered an administrative review of the cannabis classification. The White House recently listed these actions among the president’s “major accomplishments.”

The four co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus — Democrats Earl Blumenauer and Barbara Lee and Republicans Dave Joyce and Brian Mast — released a joint statement after the president signed:

“For decades, the federal government has stood in the way of science and progress with a misguided and discriminatory approach to cannabis. Today marks a monumental step in fixing our federal cannabis laws,” they said. “The Medical Cannabis and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act will facilitate the study of the impacts and potential of cannabis.”

“Research is fundamental to determining the way forward in cannabis policy. Research is essential to better understand the therapeutic benefits of cannabis that have the potential to help millions of Americans battling chronic pain, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, anxiety disorders and more. »

“We welcome the enactment of this essential and long-awaited legislation, and we know that much more needs to be done to address the continuing damage of the failed war on drugs. Our caucus will continue to work to reimagine the federal government’s approach to cannabis and enact further reforms. In the coming weeks, we are committed to passing other bipartisan, common-sense proposals like the SAFE Banking Package, the Veterans Equal Access Act, the PREPARE Act and the Safe Harbor Act. medical cannabis for veterans. »

The Swiss Federal Commission on Issues Related to Addiction and the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (CFANT) expressed its support for the legalization of cannabis in a press release from the Swiss Federal Council.

The Swiss parliamentary committees have already given the green light to the legalization of cannabis, a regulation which would therefore go further than the current experiments in the controlled distribution of cannabis, which are slow to start due to quality problems with cannabis and its products.

“The current cannabis policy is unsuitable,” says the CFANT, which also points to the health risks. To prevent consumers from being exposed to potentially dangerous products, “the cannabis market must be legalized and regulated”.

The simple decriminalization of consumption, the possibility of growing at home or selling through the health system “does not constitute a credible alternative to the black market. Nevertheless, underlines the commission, “nothing justifies encouraging the consumption of this medicine”, which should therefore not be promoted.

The commission is therefore positioning itself for the control of cannabis by making it accessible without advertising it.

Zurich and Basel, the first cities to experiment with the legal distribution of cannabis

Last year, the federal government announced its intention to relax the rules for medical cannabis and end cannabis prohibition. Last October, the Committee on Social Security and Health of the Council of States recommended that Switzerland legalize cannabis.

Previously, the public health commission of the National Council in Switzerland had given its approval. The government must now start drafting a bill, but it has decided to experiment first.

If the Basel and Zurich experiments have been postponed, in the first case because pesticide residues were found in the grass, the number of participating cities will lead to an experimental network that can facilitate the implementation ultimately of a federation-wide legalization of cannabis.

With a majority in parliament, it is quite possible that the right-wing ruling coalition in the Czech Republic will overtake Germany and become the first European country to create a commercial cannabis market for adults.

In September this year, the Czech national drug coordinator and former anti-communist activist, Jindřich Vobořil, announced that he planned a comprehensive reform of cannabis by early 2024. The proposed basic legislation for the introduction of a regulated cannabis market in the Czech Republic should be completed by the end of March, Jindřich Vobořil said last Friday after a meeting of experts.

He added that regulation of adult cannabis use should cover sale, production, recommended THC levels and licensing of manufacturers and retailers.

His plans have the backing of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who leads a five-party coalition with 108 seats, and therefore a 200-seat majority in parliament.

Commercial Cannabis

Benjamin-Alexandre Jeanroy of Paris-based cannabis consultancy Augur Associates believes the Czech cannabis initiative will progress faster than that of its German neighbours.

He said: “There is a very strong possibility that the Czech Republic will finish before Germany. Besides protecting public health, the right-wing Czech government says it wants to ensure the economic benefits that the cannabis reform will bring. »

“He anticipates the export potential to the German market, depending on how it is legalized, and he welcomes the additional tax revenue that a regulated trade market will bring to public finances. »

“Germany must overcome the lack of a majority in the upper house, the Bundesrat, the problems caused by conservatives who are slowing down cannabis reform, while the current differences between members of the Traffic-Light Coalition should not be underestimated. »

The Czech Republic and cannabis

The Czech Republic, with a population of over 10 million, is one of the most liberal countries in Europe when it comes to cannabis.

The country allowed the use of cannabis for medical purposes in 2013, after decriminalizing the use and possession of cannabis three years earlier.

Earlier this year, the Czech Republic eased access to medical cannabis after seeing an increase in the number of patients to 4,601, up almost a quarter from 2021.

A first draft of an exit from prohibition in the Czech Republic was published by members of the coalition, the Pirates Party, last September.

The project emphasizes risk reduction, suppression of the illicit market and protection of public health. He recommends the establishment of licensed production and sale, as well as self-cultivation and the possibility of creating cannabis social clubs.

He also emphasizes the economic benefits, which he outlines in a press release, saying, “Reform, regulation, taxation – these are the three pillars with which we Pirates approach the regulation of the cannabis market. »

“Through taxation we will get billions of crowns a year and at the same time we will avoid unnecessary spending on repression. Moreover, if we manage to launch a regulated market with that of Germany, it will mean enormous opportunities for our economy in the field of exports. »

Economic benefits

The proposals are similar in many ways to those of its German neighbors, with one exception: the recommendation that all cannabis users should register with the state.

This quirk – imagine if all drinkers had to register with the government – ​​will no doubt be challenged during the drafting process.

An important issue that will need to be addressed is alignment with international drug conventions, which the Pirates’ proposals have attempted to address.

Mr Jeanroy believes that Mr Vobořil will address them over the next few weeks in a pan-European way, since the Czech Republic currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union until the end of 2022.

Pan-European reform

Evidence of a coordinated European approach to cannabis emerged earlier this year when a handful of countries – Germany, the Czech Republic, Malta, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – came together to develop a common approach. of reform.

It is not yet known whether this will help to clarify questions relating to the supply of markets. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has already said that to align with the conventions, cannabis cannot be imported.

And Germany, with a population of 83 million and a potential annual demand of 500 tonnes, will become a magnet for global cannabis companies. The Czech Republic currently sources its medical cannabis from a single licensed company.

Public health and the potential economic benefits of a booming cannabis trade sector – as seen in North America – are key drivers of European reform, and cross-border cannabis trade has the potential to align with the international treaties, says Jeanroy.

The Czech locomotive

He believes the complexities associated with cannabis reform are the legacy of over 100 years of prohibition.

He said: “There seems to be a tendency towards over-regulation, because governments still have the reflexes of prohibition. »

“Progressive governments will need to listen, debate and develop. This has never been done in Europe before, so there will be deviations and contradictions and it will take time, which might temper the desire to move quickly. »

“It may not be perfect at first, but we have the capacity and ability to develop a workable framework that can evolve as we progress. »

Stephen Murphy CEO and co-founder of Prohibition Partners identified the benefits of Czech reform, saying: “The Czech Republic has a unique opportunity to lead the EU in the evolution of drug policy, which is beginning to go to beyond the outdated prohibition of cannabis. »

“The Czech Republic has the highest prevalence of cannabis use of any country in Europe, which means that legalization is a big step forward for the industry but also for the protection of the country’s hundreds of thousands of consumers. . »

“What we need to see before we can really think about the industry in the country is the legal structure of the legislation and how it addresses the Czech Republic’s commitment to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The Pirates party has said its plan is in line with those commitments, but we’ve yet to see those details come to fruition. It is unlikely that the Czech Republic or any other country will proceed in violation of international and European law. »

“If the legalization efforts in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands have taught us anything, it’s to give the process the time it needs and to expect delays. »

Regarding the progress of the Czech Republic, Mr. Jeanroy added: “This is largely due to the incredible efforts of Mr. Vobořil. He is the locomotive of the reform and this one would not be done at this speed if he was not the engine. »

Nevada cannabis regulators announced the winners of the state’s first 40 cannabis parlor licenses on Wednesday.

20 of these were awarded by lottery to new independent businesses, half of which went to social equity candidates. The other 20 are for existing cannabis retailers who will be opening social consumer lounges.

the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) in the state announced the raffle last week, saying it would hold “two raffles via a random number picker.” Regulators say they expect the first salons to open in the “first half of 2023”.

The CCB said earlier this month that it had received around 100 applications for this new type of license during a 10-day period in October.

Below is the list of 40 cannabis consumption lounge prospective license holders.

Read more: https://t.co/0YZ8DQmG8l pic.twitter.com/SoFVe44x9D

— Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (@NevadaCCB) December 1, 2022

These developments come more than a year after Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill legalizing consumer lounges.

Existing cannabis sellers can apply for a separate class of license to integrate lounges to their existing activities.

The CCB has approved the regulation of places where cannabis can be consumed over the summer. The law could also allow businesses that combine cannabis with yoga, serve infused foods, offer THC-assisted massage therapy, or incorporate cannabis in other ways.

The governor is a priori quite satisfied with the law on cannabis lounges of Nevada, writing, “The idea isn’t new, but nobody does it like we do in Nevada.

“While most consumer lounges in other states do not offer food, drink or other entertainment options,” he added, “Nevada lounges will be a one-stop-shop for entertainment for create jobs, develop industry and stimulate our economy. »

According to council-approved rules, consumption must be hidden from public view. Consumption must take place in a room separate from the place of sale. Single-use or ready-to-use cannabis products cannot be taken off-site. And businesses must provide free water to every customer.

The lounges will also be cannabis-only. No alcohol, tobacco or nicotine-based product may be sold there.

Succeeding in being sold in pharmacies and tobacconists, such is the big gap made by Stilla Laboratoire with its various brands: ByStilla, Rest In Tizz, Seedwell, etc. On closer inspection, this success comes from a very simple: Stilla works from varieties of hemp that he has carefully selected for their high production of terpenes.

Stilla Laboratoire, an Aquitaine company founded in 2019, operates across the entire hemp value chain in France. But if their end products have been able to convince large pharmacy chains – until being the n°1 there (source IQVIA 2022) – CBD shops, vape shops and networks of tobacconists, it is necessary to go upstream of the laboratory to understand from where comes this success.

Stilla Cultivars Filled with Terpenes

Terpenes design

As a company dedicated to quality, Stilla strives to constantly improve its products and services. One of the ways to achieve this is to work from high yielding terpene cultivars. These cultivars, derived from seeds listed in the European hemp catalog, have been carefully selected for their ability to produce a high yield of terpenes, the essential oils that give plants their flavor and aroma.

The benefits of working with high yielding terpene cultivars are numerous. Not only do they provide a higher quality product, but they produce more terpenes in a shorter time. Stilla is thus able to offer a wider range of cannabinoid-rich products at a lower cost.

Along with the benefits mentioned above, terpene cultivars also have a number of other benefits. For example, they tend to be more resistant to pests and diseases and require less water and fertilizer than other types of plants.

Beyond scents, terpenes are thought to be more important than cannabinoids in their effects. A formulation with similar THC:CBD ratios will have very different effects depending on its terpene composition. It is this detailed know-how rich in R&D that Stilla infuses into its products.

Hemp extracts at the Stilla laboratory

Direct producer, direct manufacturer

Stilla’s greatest asset therefore lies in a very short production chain. All of the products marketed by the laboratory have been grown, processed and made on the premises of the Aquitaine company. The terpenes used are only from plants that have been grown in France, with a majority in the surrounding fields, all like the cannabinoids and flavonoids that contribute to the entourage effect of their products.

Once extracted, the terpenes and other cannabinoid compounds go directly to Stilla’s internal laboratory to be processed into full and broad spectrum CBD oils, drinks, CBD products for animals or puffs. Each product is based on proprietary know-how acquired through a few years of work and a patent in e-liquids for puffs for example, or through internal R&D for water-soluble CBD-based products.

The Stilla product range

Needless to add that Stilla is not resting on its laurels (in hemp?) and is already anticipating its future products. The laboratory is thus working on the creation of its own genetics which it will have to include among the authorized varieties before being able to use them industrially. This promises even wider product ranges in the years to come.

If the situation concerning medical cannabis and hemp is unblocked in French Polynesia, the Caledonian neighbor is still struggling. The island is cut off from medical cannabis, unable to participate in the metropolitan experimentation with therapeutic cannabis, and CBD is classified as narcotic there. A situation that local actors regret.

Blockages at all levels

Aware of the need to advance the subject at the political level, the Syndicat du Chanvre de Nouvelle-Calédonie (SCNC) was created in April 2022. The objective is to bring the voice of local farmers to the New Caledonian government to succeed in legalizing hemp. The latter, however, seems reluctant to the emergence of such an industry.

“When the government received us, it made it clear to us that there was no question of subsidizing the sector. We answered them: “give us the right, we will take the risks” explains Frédéric Gérard, president of the SCNC.

“If the territory wants to attract capital and balance its external balance, it should set a framework, give itself the means to control licenses and perhaps certify products. Under no circumstances should it stand in the way of private initiative and relative genetic freedom, guaranteeing the establishment of economically viable and competitive applications in the face of imports. »

Because for the moment, if CBD is already sold in New Caledonian shops, despite its narcotic status since 2018, it is imported from mainland France, ecological nonsense for a plant with a negative carbon intake.

On the medical cannabis side, it’s the same blockage. The country cannot take part in the experimentation, research not being a competence of Caillou.

“There is a 1969 law which prohibits everything about Indian hemp, but which authorizes me to apply for a license to exploit poppy or coca”, quips Frédéric Gérard. “So it is time, given that the UN reclassified the plant in December 2020, to classify hemp as a narcotic with medical use”.

The only known use of medical cannabis on the island would be that of synthetic CBD delivered to alcoholics at the Nouméa hospital, under the control of the INCB.

As for the legalization of cannabis, it would also require the agreement of the French National Assembly, New Caledonian criminal law being attached to that of mainland France.

Or how, being at the antipodes of the metropolis, being linked to a 1969 law which prohibits medical cannabis, a 2018 law which classifies the stupefying CBD and a metropolis which does not have the odor of sanctity on the subject.

The presidents of Colombia and Mexico have announced that they will bring together other Latin American leaders for an international conference aimed at “redefining and rethinking drug policy” in light of the “failure” of prohibition.

As lawmakers in both countries work to advance cannabis legalization, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in a joint statement Friday that they recently met to discuss the “geopolitical, commercial, cultural and development cooperation” within the framework of their bilateral relations.

Part of that effort will be to work with the broader international community to chart a new course on the drug policy front, a topic that Mr. Petro has frequently addressed since taking office at the start of the year. year.

“Recognizing the failure of the fight against drugs and the vulnerability of our peoples to this problem, Mexico and Colombia will convene an international conference of Latin American leaders with the aim of redefining and rethinking drug policy. the two countries announced in a joint statement following Petro’s visit to Mexico last week.

This is one of more than a dozen “bilateral agenda” priorities set by the presidents.

Although the statement is sketchy, the reference to the “failure” of the war on drugs – as well as past comments by the two presidents on the need for reform – indicates that international discussions will largely focus on the abandonment of the drug criminalization model.

Mr. Petro said international cooperation on how to end the war on drugs is important, “given the levels of violence that the current policy has unleashed, particularly in the continental United States. »

“We are killing each other,” the Colombian president said in a statement ahead of his meetings with Lopez Obrador. “And it’s the product of prohibition.”

Since his election to the presidency, Mr. Petro has been particularly outspoken on the issue. For example, he delivered a speech at a United Nations (UN) meeting in September, in which he urged member nations to fundamentally change their approach to drug policy and end prohibition.

He also recently spoke about the prospects of legalizing cannabis in Colombia as a way to reduce the influence of the illicit market. And he indicated that this change in policy should be followed by the release of those currently imprisoned for cannabis.

To that end, Colombian senators approved in committee last week a cannabis legalization bill, after it advanced through the country’s House of Representatives.