Brazil’s Supreme Court voted to decriminalize marijuana possession for personal use, potentially reducing the country’s prison population. The decision, expected to take effect soon, will set limits on the quantity of marijuana considered personal use and maintain selling drugs as illegal.
In 2006, Brazil passed a law penalizing small drug possession with alternative penalties, but the legislation lacked clarity on quantities, leading to continued arrests on trafficking charges and growing prison populations. An ongoing congressional proposal aims to tighten drug legislation, potentially conflicting with the Supreme Court ruling.
A congressional proposal to tighten drug legislation
President of Igarapé Institute, Ilona Szabó, highlighted that many detained for drug offenses were first-time offenders carrying small amounts without ties to organized crime. As Congress considers stricter drug laws, the legal landscape surrounding marijuana possession remains uncertain.