By: Frank G. Shineman
Perhaps unknown to many, the Nation of Peru is a friendly nation for the consumption of drugs of different types. Some of the biggest reasons for this is their history and their geography. One caveat to all who plan a vacation to this supposed “Drug Paradise” is that the laws are very strict. In Peru, the excuse that “I didn’t know,” will not be accepted by the legal authorities. The moral of this story is, find out the rules about what and how much you can legally possess before you go.
A more controversial subject is that Peru is considering legalizing the production and consumption of Medical Marijuana that contains high levels of CBD.
As in many other poor countries, the need for affordable remedies has forced people to be creative in seeking solutions. The poverty in these nations keeps millions from being able to afford manmade drugs to provide relief for illnesses. Though readily available, these pharmaceuticals are affordable only to the wealthy. This nationwide dilemma came to a head in what was considered an ordinary drug raid.
There was a case where a woman was leading a group of 85 medical marijuana growers and consumers. As officials were able to determine through questioning, it wasn’t that these people were wanting to flaunt the laws. Rather, it was that so many of them had seriously ill family or close friends afflicted by many diseases. Their collective poverty demanded that they resort to this still illegal means of bringing health to their loved ones.
This nationwide dire situation eventually came to the attention of Peru’s President, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. All reports indicating that President Kuczynski is a compassionate man, he determined to develop a plan to make Medical Marijuana legal. However, he faces an uphill battle in the next Parliament because Peru is ruled by a large majority of Ultraconservatives.
In President Kuczynski’s proposal, the trafficking and use of marijuana for purposes other than medical would remain illegal. If the proposal becomes law Peru would then join the countries of Colombia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay who have similar laws.
