Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos endorsed newly introduced legislation that would legalize therapeutic and medicinal marijuana in the South American country. Huffington Post reports that President Santos is known for his willingness to rethink prohibitionist drug policies. The bill was introduced by a senator as a means of reducing the pain and anxiety for those that are suffering from a terminal illness. Additionally, the bill also reduces criminal involvement in marijuana production and sale.

The medicinal-use bill was introduced by Senator Juan Manuel Galan, whose father was assassinated in 1989 by cocaine traffickers. Senator Galan has previously stated that other countries in the region considering similar measures include Argentina, Brazil and Chile. In the Americas, Uruguay has approved legal pot and Jamaica’s justice minister announced in June plans to legalize the drug for religious and medical purposes and decriminalize the possession of amounts up to two ounces.

In Colombia, there are currently about 1.5 square miles of marijuana fields and a pound of marijuana costs $230. Marijuana plantations currently benefit rebels and paramilitary groups, though cocaine is a bigger business. The country ranks second in the world for cocaine production. This bill would help remove marijuana from their enrichment and also focus enforcement efforts on cocaine.

Recently, major changes have been seen in positions on medical marijuana. According to the National Monitor, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a prominent American physician and CNN medical correspondent, announced a change in his views on medical marijuana. As medical marijuana continues to be legalized, more shifts in views are likely to be seen.