(ANSAmed) - MADRID, DECEMBER 12 - The Basque Parliament will
approve a law bill in the first few months of 2012 on drug
addiction, which will regulate "the growing, sale and
consumption of cannabis". This is according to the second in
command at the region's health authority, Jesus Maria Fernandez,
who was quoted by the EFE agency. "It is better to regulate
than to ban," said Fernandez, who called the consumption of
cannabis "a practice that is already consolidated". His words
were echoed by the leading health official, Rafael Bengoa, who
said: "We do not want to be prohibitionists". The consumption
and possession of cannabis are regulated by the penal code and
by the law on citizen security. For the new ruling, for which
"technical and legal studies have been undertaken", the regional
government wants to "open a debate" with associations in favour
of consumption and to "shape their rights". The law bill on
drug addiction also features prevention and treatment for
gambling addictions, which affect 2% of the Basque population,
and for addiction to new technology. (ANSAmed).
