Parties propose legalisation of recreational cannabis

The Left Bloc (BE) and People-Animals-Nature (PAN) have debated the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use, in the form of bills tabled to the Portuguese parliament.

The BE is calling for sales to be made only in establishments licensed for the purpose that they “must have, only as their main activity the commerce of cannabis plants, substances or preparations”, while PAN takes the view that sales “should occur exclusively in pharmacies”, where there are professionals qualified to offer clarification.

The bill from the BE, which will present its proposal first, foresees the legalisation of cannabis for personal non-medicinal use, with the law also to regulate aspects of production and cultivation, marketing, acquisition, detention and consumption of cannabis plants or derivatives.

“The main objective of responsible and safe legalisation of recreational cannabis should always be the reduction of problem consumption, the effective fight against drug trafficking and associated crime” and the promotion of public health, safety, making citizens responsible and preventing addictions, it said.

