Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Legalizes Medical Marijuana, Says ‘It Doesn’t Go Against Our International Commitments To Control Drugs’

Colombian leader Juan Manuel Santos has signed a law Tuesday legalizing medical marijuana in the country. The decree signed by Santos made it legal to grow and sell marijuana for medical and scientific purposes, Yahoo! News noted Tuesday.

Under the Colombian law, anyone who wants to grow marijuana is required to apply to the National Narcotics Council to secure a license.

According to studies, marijuana can be used for different diseases such as Crohn's disease, seizures, HIV, epilepsy and nausea.

"We have just taken an important step to place Colombia in the vanguard of the fight against disease and we're doing it via a decree that seeks to take advantage of the benefits of cannabis to improve people's lives," the Colombian president said in a ceremony where he was escorted by Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria.

"To allow for the medicinal use of cannabis isn't a move in the wrong direction, it doesn't go against our international commitments to control drugs, or against our policy of fighting drug trafficking," Santos told reporters after signing the decree.

He added, "The manufacture, export, sale, and medical and scientific use of this and other substances have been permitted for several decades in Colombia. However, they were never regulated. That is what we are doing today."

"Our goal is for patients to be able to access medications made in Colombia that are safe, high-quality and accessible. It is also an opportunity to promote scientific research in our country."

Reports have revealed that several Latin American countries have legalized marijuana just recently. American states including Colorado, Oregon and Washington have also decriminalized marijuana, while South American country Uruguay has legalized marijuana since 2013.

On the other hand, IB Times reported Wednesday that the National Congress of Chile reportedly is considering to decriminalize marijuana in the country, while Mexico is slated to open a "national debate" to talk about its marijuana decrees in January next year.