Colombia Falls 7 Votes Short of Legalizing Recreational Cannabis, What Went Wrong?

Last Tuesday, Colombia’s Senate dealt a blow to decriminalizing recreational cannabis by rejecting a bill. The constitutional reform proposal fell short of 54 votes, receiving 43 against and 47 in favor. This decision was made just an hour before the conclusion of the current legislative session. Despite facing a setback, Senator Juan Carlos Losada of the Liberal Party remained optimistic and refrained from considering it a defeat. He highlighted the significant progress achieved by bringing such a contentious issue to public discourse over the past four years. Losada’s perspective reflects a positive outlook, acknowledging the impact made through sustained efforts to generate discussions on the matter.