The Socialist Platform for the Legalisation of Cannabis, an informal structure of militants and Socialist Party supporters, on Friday called on the Government to open up the research and development of the cannabis industry in Portugal.
The group praised the socialist party's support for the Left Bloc’s call for the legalisation and regulation of medicinal cannabis in Portugal, as well as expressing appreciation for the action developed by the PAN party but now want smaller producers to get involved - legally.
"In a world undergoing rapid change and more than 70 years after a radical policy of combating drug use and trafficking, all national and transnational policies to combat this scourge have failed irretrievably in all continents and countries,” states the Socialist platform.
In an appeal to the government, members of the platform want smaller producers to thrive, "Portugal can’t and shouldn’t hinder or delay the investment and research into cannabis, protecting international investment and hampering national crop initiatives, turning away from small and medium-sized farmers because of legal impositions."
"The Portuguese Government can’t ignore any longer the need to support the Portuguese in the development of this new industrial and agricultural segment, defending national producers and consumers, creating conditions for the supply of national and international markets in defence of a national trade and products with national brands," concluded the activists, wanting big business to have some sort of challenge and a relaxation of a rapidly developing cartel.
