As reported by CannaReporter
The Bloco de Esquerda (The Left Bloc), Portugal’s left-wing democratic socialist party, delivered a new draft law to the Assembly of the Republic this week proposing the legalisation of cannabis for personal use.
The proposal calls for the state to regulate the creation of authorised commercial establishments, the sale of cannabis online and the domestic cultivation of up to five plants per person.
The New Proposals
This new draft law is different to previous legalisation attempts as The Left Bloc have now dropped an article which proposed the prohibition of edibles and drinks containing cannabis.
This shows progress as it takes into account the millions of euros of potential revenue this market could provide.
However, “the sale of cannabis enriched with aromas, flavors or additives” would remain prohibited alongside the sale of synthetic cannabis. The state would also be able to limit THC levels.
“The State must regulate the entire cultivation, production and distribution circuit, being able to determine a maximum THC limit, as well as the consumer price, in order to combat trafficking and the illegal market”, the draft reads.
The proposal also suggests that “the retail sale of cannabis plants, substances or preparations for personal consumption without a medical prescription and provided that for purposes other than medicinal ones, is subject to authorisation from the General Directorate of Economic Activities”.
Pedro Filipe Soares, deputy of The Left Bloc, pointed out that legalisation is a way of “fighting the black market”, “manipulated substances” and “uninformed consumption”.
He also argues that Portugal has to accompany countries that have already legalised cannabis for personal use, such as Malta, and those who are debating it, such as the Germany, in which the legalisation of cannabis is one of the key points of the coalition agreement established between the SPD and the Greens.
In the introduction of the new draft, The Left Bloc emphasizes that “the prohibitionist policy is not a solution, in fact, it is an integral part of the problem and enhances its aggravation, protecting the clandestinity of trafficking and jeopardising public health”.
Specialised Retail Stores and Seeds in Agricultural Stores
In the explanatory memorandum of the document, it is highlighted that: “Legalizing cannabis for personal use – more commonly known as recreational use – is to combat trafficking networks and is to combat organised crime networks that are often financed through the trafficking of substances like cannabis.”
Establishments for the sale of cannabis must have, “only as an activity, the sale of cannabis plants, substances or preparations”, with the exception of “commercial establishments whose main activity is the sale of agricultural or similar equipment, machinery and plant , where the trade in cannabis seeds is permitted”.
The previous draft from The Left Bloc was presented about a year ago, along with second from the Liberal Initiative, and was even lowered to the commission, but expired with the fall of the government and the end of the legislature.
