Chile

[al mriko]

Subject: Chile's Avila Launches Presidential Campaign, Wants Marijuana


Source: Narconews.com


Thursday 07 Oct 2004


Author: Al Giordano

---

Six weeks ago, we reported on the setback by which the Chilean political
system, through its dominant parties in Congress, blocked a marijuana
legalization bill sponsored by Senator Nelson Avila.

But often, when Power throws up one fence, it causes change agents to seek new paths, cut new holes in the wall, dig tunnels or leap higher than
before. Such is the case in Chile where Avila announces his candidacy for
the 2005 election for president of the nation.

La Tercera reports his stance in favor of legalizing the cultivation (not
merely the possession) of marijuana as first among his issues. Others
include legalization of abortion and euthanasia, and in favor of Chile
granting a seaport to landlocked Bolivia (which would resolve a
hundred-plus-year-old conflict between the two nations that has fueled many of the rebellions in recent years in Bolivia).

In the coming weeks, Avila plans on crisscrossing the country, beginning in the indigenous lands of the Mapuche ethnic group, where indigenous leader Aucan Huilcaman Paillama is also expected to declare his candidacy for the presidency.

Avila told the news agency Las Ultimas Noticias that while his candidacy
may well cause problems for his former center-left political party,
Concertacion, he expects it will "cause headaches for many" parties and
politicians.

Perhaps they will at least be able to treat their headaches, in due time,
with the five-leafed medicine that the colorful Senator seeks to legalize.
As the campaign marches on, Narco News will be reporting its progress.

[patolunga]

hi there my far away friends!

well avila really wants to legalize the grow of cannabis for personal use
is really complicated to say if he will do that or not..but the cannabis movement in chile is growing really fast ... i think that we the cannabis user wil, do more for it than a politic... but is always good to have a little help.

well greetings from chile.. and i hope soon i will go to visit hempcity ..looks really nice to smoke a good one there maybe a cumple and to give a way some seeds from this lands..

buenos humos and good luck!

pato.

[Guest]

I was in CHile and I know that the police (los pacos) arest you directly if they see you smoking.And the problem is that the police officers in Chile are very serious, there is NO WAY to talk about it!

It is very hard to get something to smoke.