Quito and Guayaquil joined the campaign for the decriminalization of marijuana

In Quito, the march called by the Ecuadorcanábico and Diabluma groups brought together around 200 people who left from La Carolina Park (north of Quito) and headed to the National Assembly (north-center). A few days ago, the Diabluma organization presented a proposal for decriminalization to the Assembly's Committee on Justice Structure and State, where among other points it indicates that each person can grow up to 10 marijuana plants without being penalized. Likewise, this same group carried out several informational activities last week on the environment of the consumption of this plant in society.

According to Felipe Ogaz, the aim of the proposal is to put an end to the groups that traffic these types of narcotics “and to allow people to consume them in peace without repression.” 

Mauricio Velasco, an activist from both groups, is aware that “there is a strong stigma on the part of society regarding the issue.” This assertion has been expressed on social media where hundreds of people have spoken out in favor and others against this issue. 

Daniel Salazar, one of the attendees, acknowledged that, just as “we are asking for its decriminalization, we are aware that the abuse of any drug is harmful to health.” Several activists consumed this drug while they were moving through the streets.

Meanwhile, in the city of Guayaquil, more than a march, what took place was a meeting between several people who talked to plan future activities to raise awareness about this issue. 

In other countries, there were also marches for the legalization of marijuana and against the growth of drug trafficking. 

In Chile, Karol Cariola, general secretary of the Young Communists of Chile, invited the citizens of her country to the march through the social network Twitter. This invitation was retweeted by Camila Vallejo, activist and vice president of the Federation of Students of the University of Chile.

In Argentina, thousands of young people marched through downtown Buenos Aires and other cities in the interior of the country, demanding the “decriminalization now” of marijuana, “no more prisoners for planting” and for “the authorization of the medicinal uses of cannabis.”