University of Valparaiso researcher Rodrigo Diaz Viciedo begins analysis of Fundación Daya's first experimental marijuana grow. (Photo: Bud Theisen)

Santiago, Chile – Medical marijuana advocates won a huge victory in Chile in November as the regional agriculture authority approved a 6,900-plant marijuana farm and a team of volunteers planted 20 strains of high-potency marijuana seeds.

The document hasn't been published officially but a copy was obtained by the Associated Press last week, the Washington Post reported. The new decree also permits the sale of medicines derived from cannabis at pharmacies.

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has signed a decree that removes marijuana from the country's list of hard drugs.

The decree also authorizes the sale of cannabis-derived medicines at pharmacies.

The document hasn't been published officially, but a copy was obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

Planting, selling and transporting marijuana remains illegal in Chile and carries prison terms of 5-10 years. But Congress is expected to soon debate wider changes to Chile's drug law.

Chile is joining an international trend of easing restrictions on marijuana for medical or personal use.

A Chilean mother says a hospital is restricting her access to her newborn baby because she said she smoked marijuana.

Sindy Melany Ortiz said she smoked pot for medicinal reasons to alleviate pain in one of her arms.

She says she is not being allowed to breast-feed her daughter and can only see her for two hours a day.

Hospital officials in the southern city of Talcahuano said they were following protocol and the baby was at risk.

"They have violated my rights as a mother," said Ms Ortiz, "I use this drug only for the pain in my arms, it was recommended by a medical professional to me and I am absolutely not a drug consumer."

A Chilean mother says a hospital is restricting her access to her newborn baby because she said she smoked marijuana.

Sindy Melany Ortiz said she smoked pot for medicinal reasons to alleviate pain in one of her arms.

She says she is not being allowed to breast-feed her daughter and can only see her for two hours a day.

Hospital officials in the southern city of Talcahuano said they were following protocol and the baby was at risk.

“They have violated my rights as a mother,” said Ms Ortiz, “I use this drug only for the pain in my arms, it was recommended by a medical professional to me and I am absolutely not a drug consumer.”

SANTIAGO, Chile - The Chilean government approved the largest plantation in Latin America, nearly 7000 seeds of marijuana for medicinal use. The measure will benefit a total of 4,000 cancer patients, with refractory epilepsy, those who resist anticonvulsants, or who suffer chronic pain.
  
Permission was granted by the State Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of the Maule, in the center of the country.
  
In Chile, the third largest consumer of marijuana in the region, cultivation, sale and transportation of marijuana is still prohibited by a strict law that has not changed and infringement means heavy prison sentences.
  

According to the deputy Juan Luis Castro, up to four grams and a plant will be considered a fault, while more than that is a crime.
"We are far from reaching an agreement on the project," said the chairman of the Health Committee.

A reduction of penalties, without their removal, is what the Government proposes on the project that seeks to decriminalize marijuana, which is pending in the House of Representatives.

According an advance from the president of the Health Commission of the House, Juan Luis Castro (PS), the position is that if a person is caught carrying up to four grams of marijuana or has a plant for self-cultivation in his home it will be considered an administrative offense, with citation to the local police court, and a possible fine.

With its proposed changes to Ley 20.000 (Law 20,000), Chile joins a growing list of Latin American countries decriminalizing marijuana. The initiative, which would grant Chileans the right to possess up to 10 grams of cannabis and grow up to six marijuana plants at a time, was passed in Chile’s Chamber of Deputies on July 7 with 68 voting in favor and 39 against.

The moves in Santiago highlight a growing movement toward acceptance of pot in Latin America.

Three police forces have acknowledged that growing and using cannabis is no longer to be treated as a priority crime.

While cannabis remains a Class B drug in the UK, police chiefs including Durham’s Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg, say they will not actively pursue those growing or using leaves for personal, recreational use.

And Alan Charles, Derbyshire's PCC, told the Daily Mail: "When we are faced with significant budget cuts we cannot keep turning out to every single thing reported to us."