The issue of the legalization of marijuana has revealed divisions in the Spanish government, which is headed by a center-left coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and junior partner Unidas Podemos. The PSOE on Tuesday voted against a proposal to legalize cannabis for recreational use, even though this meant aligning itself with the conservative Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox, which also opposed the measure. Thanks to the unlikely agreement among these groups, the proposal was defeated overwhelmingly, with 75 votes in favor, 263 against and nine abstentions. The PSOE is only willing to consider legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, an issue that is set to be examined by a recently formed subcommittee of the lower house of parliament, the Congress of Deputies. With respect to decriminalizing cannabis for recreational use, the PSOE’s objection on Tuesday was almost as categorical as that of the right. “This is not a question of the right or the left, it is a question of public health,” said PSOE lawmaker Daniel Vicente in Congress, adding: “We are a government party.”
Sean Hocking, Cannabis Law Report, 10/21/2021 02:11:00