Cocaine capital Colombia goes soft on ecstasy users

The Colombian government is considering decriminalising the personal use of ecstasy in an effort to curb drug trafficking.

The Justice Minister, Ruth Stella, has introduced a bill which would put synthetic drugs in the same category as cannabis, which is banned but people carrying small amounts are not prosecuted.

Colombia is known as a producer and trafficking point for cocaine but it is drug use within its borders which the government is keen to address, and there is a move towards recognising it as a health issue rather than a criminal problem.