ASUNCIÓN: Paraguay’s Congress passed a bill on Tuesday creating a state-sponsored system to import marijuana seeds and grow the plant for medical uses, a decision that emulated those made in other countries in Latin America.

The landlocked South American nation had authorized the importing of cannabis oil in May, under control of the health ministry, and Tuesday’s decision was celebrated by patients their and loved ones for making it more readily available.

“We are very happy because this will also allow for the import of seeds for oil production,” said Roberto Cabañas, vice president of Paraguay’s medicinal cannabis organization. His daughter has Dravet syndrome, and the family was paying $300 (RM1,220) a month for imported cannabis oil.

Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Uruguay has fully legalized growing and selling marijuana for any use.

The bill will likely be signed into law, as it was supported by the health ministry.

Growing marijuana for recreational purposes in Paraguay is illegal, but the country is a key source of illegal marijuana trafficked into Brazil and Argentina.