Majority of Brazil’s top court rules that possessing marijuana is not illegal

After a significant vote on Tuesday, the majority of justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court are in favor of decriminalizing the possession of marijuana for personal use.

Justice Dias Toffoli, the sixth member of the 11-member highest court to vote in favor of decriminalization, stated, “The position is clear that no user of any drug can be considered a criminal.”

Thus far, three justices—including the most recent addition, Cristiano Zanin, a leftist chosen by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva—have rejected the decision to remove the criminalization of cannabis possession.

Marijuana use in public places will stay forbidden, and cannabis is still illegal in Brazil.

The Supreme Court has been debating decriminalizing its use since 2015, and the judges came to a majority decision at a time when politicians are considering a constitutional ban on the use of illegal drugs.

A bill that would modify the Constitution to make it illegal to consume or possess any sort of narcotics is making its way through Congress with the backing of conservative and evangelical legislators.