San Juan, May 4 (EFE).– A number of organizations celebrated Monday the decision of Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana derivatives, a measure that has been debated for almost two years by the island’s legislature.

The director of descriminalizacion.org, Rafael Torruella, said in a communique that his organization receives “with cautious joy” the decision announced Sunday afternoon by the governor, who signed an executive order to begin the legalization process immediately.

“We understand that this measure, though it advances the therapeutic use of the plant, leaves intact the war on drugs and the jailing of thousands of people simply for being in possession of the substance,” Torruella said.

At the same time, he appreciated the fact that “thousands of ailing people will have an alternative for treating their health problems.”

“At last,” he said, this measure acknowledges that “cannabis is a medicinal plant with tons of proven benefits and historically recognizes that its use should not be criminalized,” but added that “not only the use of cannabis derivatives should be legalized, but also that which has been proved safe and necessary for therapeutic treatment: the plant in its natural form.”

Other organizations like Puerto Rico Medical Marijuana, Marihuana Medicinal Puerto Rico and Free Juana also celebrated the measure but though it had taken too long, as did thousands of people on social networks. Some, however, criticized the way it was enacted by executive order.

With this step, Puerto Rico joins a growing number of states in the U.S. and countries in Latin America that have legalized the use of medical marijuana and are now progressing toward its complete decriminalization. EFE