The 15 years of jail term for selling and transporting marijuana might now become a thing of the past in Chile, after Chile lawmakers approved marijuana decriminalisation bill, to allow  Chileans grow marijuana  for medical purpose.

Members of the Lower House approved the bill by a wide margin, with 68 in favour and 39 against.

According to the country’s Lower House of congress, citizens now have access to marijuana for recreational or spiritual use.

The measure will allow each Chilean to grow up to Six plants of Cannabis in their home.

The new bill will go before a Health Commission and then the Senate for approval.

A Chilean municipality began planting the country’s first medical marijuana in October, as part of a government-approved pilot programme.

However this bill, if passed, will also decriminalise its recreational use.

Several other countries have eased restrictions for medical or personal use of marijuana in recent years.

Reports have it that in the US, more than 20 states allow some form of medical marijuana, Colorado and Washington have legalised it for personal use.

Uruguay became the first country to create a legal marijuana market in 2013 and earlier this year, Jamaica decriminalised personal use of the drug.