In order to give local youth a center where they can freely smoke marijuana, a west Colombia mayor proposed to construct a “Marijuana-dome.”
Smoking and carrying small amounts of marijuana in Colombia is legal, but the country just introduced a new police code that prohibits the smoking of the illicit substance in public spaces.
In order to regulate the use of marijuana in his town, the mayor of Tulua subsequently proposed to construct a shelter where youth can come together and smoke weed without breaking the law or being a nuisance to neighbors.
I would like to evaluate this issue. [The smoking of marijuana] is a reality we cannot hide. I prefer that marijuana consumers have a space away from parks and avenues so they don’t disturb order and a healthy coexistence with the remaining population in other public spaces where citizens do sports or carry out other activities.
Tulua mayor Gustavo Velez
The mayor said he hopes the marijuana center can offer other activities.
“It would be great if these people going to this place with the intention of smoking marijuana end up doing sports or recreational activities in order for them to reintegrate into society,” the mayor added.
Velez said he would propose the initiative to the city council to seek permission for the construction of such a space.
Over the past decade, Colombia has increasingly introduced legislation decriminalizing the consumption of marijuana in a renewed attempt to curb substance abuse.
