By: Alfonso Vélez Jaramillo
The mayors and heads of Colombian territorial entities will have no other alternative than to enforce the law regarding control of the consumption of psychoactive substances, such as marijuana, in public spaces.
Many mayors turn a “blind eye” for reasons of convenience and to avoid political wear and tear and avoid future problems in subsequent campaigns.
As someone said, “marijuana users are plenty everywhere and they also vote.”
In that order, it is no longer unusual to see marijuana smoked at all hours in the streets and green areas of any place full of people affected by the characteristic and increasingly popular and penetrating smell of “marimba” when consumed green in cigarettes, due to addiction.
Be careful… I am not referring to the marijuana that is consumed privately for medicinal, recreational or medical purposes, I am saying this about street consumers who are almost always associated with activities that generate discomfort and a climate of insecurity and anxiety among the population, they are very visible in parks and near educational centers.
Neiva is no exception and even more so when it comes to places considered emblematic and with a large influx of public, such as our Santander Park.
This park was previously the reception room and pride of the capital of Huila, now converted into a smokehouse for marijuana and other substances associated with crime and open-air prostitution, without control by the authorities.
I notice in this park there are also good people without vices, especially pensioners and some unemployed.
In Parque Santander they let the consumers gain strength, consequently, the vendors, who no longer respect them and do it in front of everyone, but people pass by with a certain fear.
In Santander Park there are men, women and children challenging and generating a perception of insecurity, and it is even scary to cross the park at any time of the day.
At the end of last year I tempted the issue and pointed out that it should be the first decree of the new mayor German Casagua and immediately some ceroferarios who are still in the campaign came out to contradict without foundation.
This decree that I requested from the mayor is already being adopted in different cities in the country, indicating that I was not wrong when I came forward.
Legislative Decree No. 029 of 2023, which regularizes cannabis for adult use and orders other provisions related to the health service and environmental sanitation, orders mayors to determine and control the possession and consumption of unregulated and prohibited psychoactive substances , in their respective jurisdictions.
This restriction excludes medical prescription and those intended for scientific or research uses, as long as they have licenses granted by the competent authority.
So from now on, Mayor German Casagua must issue regulations related to the control of cannabis and of course other substances, restricting consumption and marketing in public spaces, common areas such as parks and school environments.
It must be a tool with teeth so that the public force can act without obstacles or fear of being accused of violating the norm or violating the human rights of the population with a problematic relationship with psychoactive substances and their family or support networks.
Territorial entities enjoy autonomy to manage their interests within the constitutional and legal limits to exercise the powers that correspond to them.
So my friend German Casagua and the mayors of Pitalito, Garzón and La Plata already have the legal tool to give citizens back the peace of mind generated by the use of psychoactive substances such as marijuana and bazooka, let’s get to work.