Big changes for Ecuador, as June 21 new changes in the country's Criminal Code take effect. The use of medicinal marijuana is no longer a crime. Non-psychoactive cannabis or hemp (from the cannabis plant) "is excluded from listed substances subject to control." - Shortened trial for crimes of violence against a woman. This is an express procedure, in which the suspect agrees to have committed an offense and receives a reduced sentence within a maximum of 45 days after the complaint by the Prosecutor's Office. Currently, trials for gender violence, whether for psychological or physical assaults, are processed through the ordinary procedure and last more than a year. - Penalties for mistreatment of urban fauna are increased. People who temporarily or permanently harm an animal will be sentenced to six months to one year in prison. Injury pet dealers will be disabled. The maximum penalty will be applied when mistreatment occurs in the presence of minors; when there is cruelty; when the animal is a cub or pregnant female; when the loss of an organ occurs, among other circumstances. Likewise, the sanction for those who organize animal fights will be a sentence of up to three years (before the maximum sanction was 10 days in prison). Cockfighting is excluded.
https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/reformas-codigo-penal-vigencia-cannabis.html