Presentation of a Preliminary Resolution to the Health Committee
In the coming days, the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) is expected to present a preliminary resolution to the Health Committee regarding the legalization of cannabis. The aim of this initiative is to establish a working group to examine this controversial issue and further explore the non-medical use of cannabis. The PS intends to debate this issue at a conference in the Assembly of the Republic this month. This summer, Germany, a member of the European Union, made significant progress in its cannabis legislation.
- Eurico Brilhante Dias, a member of the PS, believes it is essential to create this working group within the Health Committee because the legalization of cannabis is first and foremost a public health issue.
Objectives and Functioning of the Working Group on Cannabis Legalization The working group’s main role will be toconduct in-depth studies and consult experts
from various fields to inform the debate on the implications of cannabis legalization in Portugal. This group will be required to submit its conclusions by the end of the year at a conference dedicated to this issue.
Following this conference, the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group will consider the possibility of proposing a legislative initiative on cannabis legalization.
Collaboration with Other Parliamentary Groups
The Portuguese Socialist Party
does not wish to pursue this initiative alone and hopes to collaborate closely with other parliamentary groups throughout this legislative session. The Left Bloc and Liberal Initiative are two political parties that have already submitted similar proposals during the previous legislature, although these were never voted on by the Health Committee.
- The Left Bloc saw a bill rejected in early 2019, when the Socialist Party (PS) was divided between abstentions, votes in favor, and opposition.
The Liberal Initiative proposes to authorize the online and in-store sale of cannabis,
but would exclude certain types of establishments such as educational institutions, healthcare facilities, sports facilities, family or children’s playgrounds, and gas stations.
- Why is cannabis legalization important? Cannabis legalization raises complex questions that touch on several areas:
- Public health:
- Is cannabis harmful to health? Can its consumption be effectively regulated?
- The economy: What might be the economic impact of cannabis legalization on the market, and what business opportunities could it create?
Social security:
Would cannabis legalization reduce crime related to the production, trafficking, and consumption of this substance?
