prescription drugs traveling to colombia

bjorn says on May 29, 2004, 16:07:

Carry your prescription just in case Colombia, like most countries in central and south america, is quite liberal concerning pharmacautical drugs. Most, inkluding anti- depressiva, antibiotics and birth control pills, is sold over the counter without an prescription. You do however need a prescription for benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin and the like), although the doctor are not very strict in writing a prescription if you ask for these kinds of drugs. I don't think you will have any problem in Colombia taking prescription drugs with you, although it's probably a good idea to bring along your prescription in case police are searching for drugs. (this is very uncommon towards foreingers, but the local police seem to do a lot of body searching on the young kids in Colombia. Probably to see if they have more than the legal amount of narcotics.

Yes, since 1994 it is actually legal to carry small drugs for personal use in Colombia (production and distribution is still illegal) , 20 gram of cannabis and 1 gram of kokain or heroin is the maximum legal dose. Strangely, this law was imposed by the supreme court in Colombia in 1994, against the will of most politician. Last year, president Uribe put forward a proposition to ban all use of drugs in the so called referendum, but again the supreme court ruled this proposition unconstitutional.

Strangely enough, or perhaps because of this liberal law, drug
use is not very widespread in Colombia and drug use is generally not accepted. And of course, the police will just love to find more then the legal dose when doing body searches (often by planting some extra on you), in order to demand money from the offender.


Bjorn

Bjorn

0 funny, 0 helpful.

junior says on May 29, 2004, 17:22:

prescription drugs bjorn, thank you very much for your information, this really helps me out alot as i have been very concerned about what the right way to deal with this situation. i have never been to colombia but like many others in this site, i have fallen in love with colombianita and will be traveling to meet her and i would like to make it a positive experience. this site has helped me to feel that it's okay to travel to colombia. you are an interesting person, and seem to know alot about colombia, would like to talk to you more. i have alot of questions. again thank you a million for your response it was alot of help
thanx junior

0 funny, 0 helpful.