Brazil’s court decriminalises possession of marijuana for personal use

Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday voted to decriminalise possession of marijuana for personal use, making the nation one of Latin America's last to do so, in a move that could reduce its massive prison population.

With final votes cast on Tuesday, a majority of the justices on the 11-person court have voted in favor of decriminalisation since deliberations began in 2015.

The justices must still determine the maximum quantity of marijuana that would be characterised as being for personal use and when the ruling will enter into effect. That is expected to finish as early as Wednesday.