Buenos Aires  - The possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use in Argentina is no longer to be punished in Argentina.

The country's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that punishing the possession of even small amounts of marijuana - a practice which was in place until now - is unconstitutional because it "invades the sphere of personal liberty that is excluded from the authority of state organs."

The seven-judge panel stressed that the change is only applicable to adults, and that consumption will remain illegal if users put other people at risk.

The court ruled in a criminal case against five young men who had been arrested in 2006 in Rosario, Argentina, for possession of a total of three joints. The five were absolved by the Supreme Court.

The definition of a precise limit for the amount of marijuana that can be held legally was to follow at a later date.

The Argentine government has been among those favouring a decriminalization of drug use, so that police can focus on fighting drug dealers.  (dpa)