Peru approves medicinal use of marijuana

Lima, Oct 20: The Peruvian Congress has approved a bill that authorises the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives in the country.

The proposal received 67 votes against five as three abstained in a full legislative on Thursday, allowing the bill to be enacted by the executive without going through the second voting session as required by law.

The bill will legalise the medicinal use of marijuana and its derivatives, such as cannabis oil, to alleviate the symptoms of diseases such as cancer, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, Efe news reported.

Congressman Alberto de Belaunde, who was the advocate of the proposal, said that once the bill is promulgated the government will have 60 days to work on the regulations.

De Belaunde added that this document must be published in advance so that all citizens will have access to its content and send suggestions and proposals.

"We achieved it. Historic moment for Congress and the country: Legal medicinal cannabis," De Belaunde wrote on his Twitter account.

The legislative approval came following the government's proposal to decriminalise the medical use of marijuana, following a "controversial" raid in February at a clandestine laboratory where marijuana oil was manufactured for sick children.