Madrid (EFE).- The debate on the comprehensive regulation of cannabis returns to Congress with the admission for processing of an ERC bill that demands safe access to cannabis, both for therapeutic and recreational use and that, for the moment, It will have the vote in favor of Unidas Podemos and Más País, according to what both organizations have advanced to EFE.
The initiative of the republican parliamentary group is exactly the same that it registered in 2021 and that finally was not debated when a similar one from Más País was processed, also supported by Unidas Podemos, and which was rejected by the votes of the PSOE, PP and Vox.
On this occasion, the PSOE has not wanted to advance the direction of its vote but to maintain the position of 2021, when it rejected the initiative of Más País, the matter will be another point of confrontation with the government partners.
According to ERC sources, the intention of the republican parliamentary group with this initiative is to articulate the debate in the Lower House and join efforts with the political forces sensitive to the regulation of cannabis so that, in the event that it is processed, work on a joint text .
ERC also wants to delve into the issue of competence. The text of the initiative recalls that “competences in matters related to the regulation of cannabis are transferred to the autonomous communities, the most prominent of which is health.”
Safe access to cannabis
The bill pursues, according to its articles, safe access to therapeutic and recreational cannabis; the decriminalization and destigmatization of users, the recognition of the work of non-profit cannabis associations and the separation of regulated supply circuits from organized crime groups and bad practices associated with this type of organization.
Also the promotion of transparency and democratic control of activities related to cannabis, the fight against the underground economy and the establishment of a regulatory framework that provides legal certainty to activities related to cannabis.
The control and regulation of the activities of planting, cultivation, harvesting, production, acquisition, storage, transportation and distribution of cannabis and its derivatives is the object of the bill. The application would be throughout the national territory without prejudice to the powers attributed to the autonomies and local entities.
Last June, the congressional subcommittee on medical cannabis gave the green light to a proposal to expand its use to cancer pain and endometriosis made “exclusively by health professionals” and dispensed “with preference” in hospital pharmacies.
This is stated in the final report of conclusions that the subcommittee approved with the approval of PSOE, Unidas Podemos, Ciudadanos, PNV and PDeCat, the abstention of ERC and EH Bildu and the rejection of PP and Vox.
