Tag: Colombia

Colombia To Allow Pharmacies To Dispense Medical Cannabis Flower

Written by Johnny Green on July 30, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Cannabis products come in many forms these days, including edibles, topicals, tinctures, concentrates, beverages, and vape cartridges. More types of consumables seem to be hitting the market every year, which is good news for consumers and patients.

With that being said, cannabis flower is still one of the most popular forms of cannabis among consumers and patients for various reasons. Consuming cannabis flower provides the fastest effects for consumers and relief for patients, and it can also be used by people to make their own edibles and other products if they choose to.

All medical cannabis programs around the world must include legal sales of cannabis flower as part of their safe access models, including through pharmacies. Germany and Uruguay are two countries that already permit cannabis flower sales through pharmacies. Thankfully, that is reportedly expected to also happen soon in Colombia.

“Colombia is set to legalize the sale of psychoactivecannabis with a medical prescription, under a draft decree from the Justice Ministry that would, for the first time, permit pharmacies to dispense psychoactive marijuana flower to patients with a doctor’s authorization.” reported Colombia One in its local coverage.

“Under the proposed decree, Colombians could legally purchase cannabis in its flower form and consume it by smoking or vaporizing, once they present a medical prescription for conditions such as chronic pain, sleep disorders, or illnesses affecting the central nervous system, including Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.” the outlet also reported.

Lawmakers in Colombia first approved medical cannabis legalization in the South American nation in 2016. Legal exports of medical cannabis products were approved in 2021, and since that time, Colombia’s export sector has increasingly gained global market share.

You will be hard-pressed to find a place anywhere else on earth where quality cannabis can be cultivated on a large scale as easily and cost-effectively as it can be grown in Colombia. Licensed large-scale producers can cultivate quality cannabis in Colombia for as little as ten cents (USD) per gram. That is nearly impossible for other markets to duplicate, with only a few exceptions.

The world has enjoyed consuming Colombian cannabis flower for decades, albeit not always regulated Colombian cannabis. Fortunately, the nation’s own medical cannabis patients will soon be able to access it through the nation’s pharmacies, and without the fear of prosecution.

Colombia’s President Calls For Cannabis Legalization

Written by Hazel Norman on March 3, 2025. Posted in Policy.

Over the weekend Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged his nation’s Congress to legalize cannabis for adult use, stating in a social media post (translated from Spanish to English) that “the prohibition of marijuana in Colombia only brings violence.”

“The empowerment of mafia organizations shows the failure of prohibition and the absence of alternative measures to simple prohibition,” President Petro also stated in his social media post. “I ask the Colombian Congress to legalize marijuana and remove this crop from violence.”

La caída de Namoussir Mounir, enlace entre carteles colombianos y mexicanos con carteles de los balcanes, quien residía en Cartagena, muestra el grado de multinacionalización de las mafias de la cocaína.

Hoy existen carteles mucho más poderosos que en le época de Pablo Escobar.… pic.twitter.com/VwZUxdsZBR

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) March 2, 2025

This is not the first time that Colombia’s current president has publicly expressed support for cannabis legalization. In late 2023, when a push for legalization in Colombia failed, President Gustavo Petro called out lawmakers for ‘helping to perpetuate illegal drug trafficking and the violence associated with the unregulated trade.’

Colombia is home to an emerging legal medical cannabis industry, including the legalized exporting of medical cannabis products. Colombia’s legal industry exported over $10.8 million worth of medical cannabis products in 2023.

Cannabis is currently legal at a national level for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, cannabis is legal at a state level in two dozen states in the U.S., and regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are currently operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Colombian Review Of Clinical Trials Finds Cannabis Improves Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Written by Frank Schuler on December 6, 2024. Posted in Science.

The use of cannabis-based medications by patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome, including the use of unprocessed cannabis flower, is associated with symptomatic improvements according to a systematic review of clinical trials previously published in the journal Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.

“There is a need to explore pharmacological options for syndrome (FMS), such as medical cannabis. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize and analyze the available information about the effectiveness/efficacy and safety of cannabis-based products for medical use (CBPMs) and cannabis-based medicines (CBMs), in patients with FMS.” the researchers stated about the goal of the review. The team of researchers conducting the review were affiliated with:

Research Group on Pharmaceutical Promotion and Prevention, University of Antioquia, UdeA, AA 1226, Medellin 050010, Colombia
2El Dorado Botanical, Independent Researcher and Advisor in Bioinformatics and Precision Medicine, Medellin, Colombia.
3Research Group on Pharmaceutical Care, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

“Interventional or observational studies, systematic reviews and meta-analysis regarding the effectiveness/efficacy and safety of CBPMs and CBMs in patients with FMS were retrieved from the PubMed/Medline database until April 2024. Then, the information was summarized in tables, with the type of CBPM and CBM, the method used in the study and the effective-ness/efficacy and safety outcomes.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal condition that is estimated to affect as much as 5% of the world’s population. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome compared to men.

“19 publications were selected from the search or form the relevant references. Different CBPM and CBM were used across the studies. Also, different instruments for measuring the effectiveness were used. In general, the use of CBPMs and CBM showed an important improvement in pain, quality of life, and sleep habits. There were no serious adverse events.” researchers stated about the systematic review of clinical trials.

“The results show that CBMPs and CBMs could be effective and safe in patients with FMS; however, the evidence is limited and there is a need for high-quality clinical studies conducted with improved methodological design.” the review authors concluded.

According to a recent market analysis by S&S Insider, the global medical cannabis market was valued at $16.84 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach an estimated $86.04 billion in value by 2032 with CAGR of 19.89% from 2024 to 2032.

CBD Mitigates Symptoms In Alzheimer’s Patients In Colombian Study

Written by Frank Schuler on November 24, 2024. Posted in Science.

Alzheimer’s disease is a serious health condition that results in a brain disorder that slowly destroys a patient’s memory and thinking skills. Eventually, the condition impedes the patient’s ability to carry out simple daily tasks.

Global researchers estimate that every 3 seconds someone develops dementia somewhere on Earth, and that there were over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia as of 2020. The number of sufferers will roughly double every 20 years, reaching a projected 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.

A team of investigators in Colombia recently conducted a study in which they examined the use of CBD oil by Alzheimer’s patients experiencing neuropsychiatric symptoms. The study was published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

“Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) may be disruptive and problematic for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and for their caregivers. Cannabidiol (CBD) may be a safer alternative. The objective was to evaluate whether CBD-rich oil was effective, and safe in adults with NPS secondary to AD.” the researchers stated about their study.

“An open-label, prospective cohort, single-center study in patients with AD onset after the age of 65 with untreated NPS. A CBD-rich oil was administrated 0.1 mL sublingually every 8–12 h, up-titrated weekly. The primary outcome was to establish a reduction in the NPI-Q severity score of >30% at 12 weeks compared with the baseline. A p value of <0.05 was statistically significant.” the researchers stated about the study’s methodology.

“Between July 2020 and July 2023, 59 (93.5%) patients completed ≥3 months of follow-up. The patients were under treatment for a mean of 23.2 months, the median dose of CBD was 111 mg/day. The median NPI-Q severity and caregiver’s distress scores at baseline were 24 and 29, respectively. At 3 months, the median NPI-Q severity score shifted to 12 (p < 0.001) and 14 (p < 0.001), respectively. The proportion of patients who achieved a reduction in the NPI-Q severity score of >30% was 94.9%, while a reduction of >50% was achieved by 54.2%. The improvement was maintained for up to 24 months,” they stated regarding the study’s findings.

“This study shows that CBD-rich oil is an effective and safe therapy for treating NPS in AD patients, while also reducing the caregivers’ distress.” the researchers concluded.

According to a recent market analysis by Insightace Analytic, “the global CBD oil market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach $3.12 billion by 2030, with a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.65% from 2022 to 2030.”

Colombia’s Cannabis Contains ‘Uncommon Terpenes’ According To Study

Written by Frank Schuler on September 17, 2024. Posted in Science.

Colombia’s emerging legal cannabis industry is growing with every passing year, and according to a recent study, the nation’s climate and environment could give the cannabis produced there an edge over other parts of the world.

A team of researchers based in Colombia, Germany, and the United States recently examined terpenes in cannabis cultivated in Colombia. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that determine the smell of many plants and herbs, including cannabis.

“This study aimed to characterize and assess the phytochemical diversity of C. sativa chemotypes in diverse ecological regions of Colombia, South America.” The researchers stated the objective of their research.

“Ten cannabinoids and 23 terpenes were measured using liquid and gas chromatography, in addition to other phenotypic traits, in 156 C. sativa plants that were grown in diverse ecological regions in Colombia, a hotspot for global biodiversity.” the researchers stated about the study’s methodology.

“Our results reveal significant phytochemical diversity in Colombian-grown C. sativa plants, with four distinct chemotypes based on cannabinoid profile.” the researchers stated in their findings. “The significant amount of usually uncommon terpenes suggests that Colombia’s environments may have unique capabilities that allow the plant to express these compounds. Colombia’s diverse climates offer enormous cultivation potential, making it a key player in both domestic and international medicinal and recreational C. sativa trade.”

“These findings underscore Colombia’s capacity to pioneer global C. sativa production diversification, particularly in South America with new emerging markets.” the researchers concluded.

According to ProColombia, a government agency in charge of promoting nontraditional Colombian trade, the value of medical cannabis exports from Colombia was $10.8 million in 2023, which was an 11.3% increase over 2022, and a 96% increase from 2021.

Per Statista, Colombia’s legal cannabis industry is expected to increase to a value of $64.59 million by the end of this year, and “revenue is anticipated to experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 2.09%, leading to a market volume of US$71.64m by 2029.”

Colombia Exported Over $10.8 Million Worth Of Cannabis Products In 2023

Written by Hazel Norman on August 21, 2024. Posted in Business.

Colombia’s emerging legal cannabis industry exported over $10.8 million worth of cannabis products in 2023 according to recently released stats from ProColombia. ProColombia is a government agency of the Executive Branch of the Government of Colombia in charge of promoting Colombian non-traditional exports, international tourism, and foreign investment in the South American nation.

According to Colombia’s Ministry of Justice and Law, more than 3,000 licenses for the cultivation and production of cannabis have been issued in Colombia so far, with an estimated 864+ hectares of legal cannabis planted and a potential cultivation area of at least 57 thousand hectares.

Of the $10.8 million worth of legal cannabis products exported from Colombia in 2023, 32% went to Brazil, 25% went to Australia, and another 14% went to Germany. Germany imported a record 31,398 kilograms of medical cannabis products in 2023.

“According to Mónica Hoyos, director of the Observatorio Colombiano de la Industria del Cannabis, who led the internationalization route of medicinal cannabis for companies of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce last year: Brazil, Australia, Peru and Germany present better conditions for Colombian exports of medicinal cannabis, data that corroborate the information provided by ProColombia.” reported Sechat in its local coverage.

Mónica Hoyos also issued words of caution that the export numbers reported by ProColombia could be lower than what was actually exported from Colombia in 2023 due to various factors.

“From what we have been able to analyze, under-reporting may occur due to issues of tariff classification and export modalities. This situation, for example, has drawn the attention of entities such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which recognized the discrepancies in the hemp export data from its database (Comtrade) and the data from national customs.” stated Hoyos according to Sechat.

Colombia has a long history with the cannabis plant, albeit not always involving a regulated industry. The South American nation legalized medical cannabis and industrial hemp in 2016 and 2021, respectively.

Cannavigia, an international cannabis compliance and production management company, estimates that Colombia’s commercial cannabis cultivators can produce dry cannabis flower for as low as $0.06 per gram, giving it a major advantage over legal industries in other nations where cannabis can cost as much as $2 per gram to produce.

The Colombian export figures for 2023, before any future adjustments, were an 11.3% increase over 2022 when Colombia’s medical cannabis exports amounted to $9.7 million, and a 96% increase compared to 2021.

Colombia Is Set To Become A Top International Source For Legal Cannabis

Written by Hazel Norman on August 13, 2024. Posted in Business.

Few regions in the world, if any, are as well-positioned as Colombia to sustainably produce mass amounts of raw cannabis material at an affordable price. The South American nation’s climate and geographical location are ideal for cultivating cannabis under the sun and in greenhouses on a very large scale.

Located along the equator, the duration of daily sunlight in Colombia is roughly 12 hours every day of the year, which is perfect for ‘flowering’ cannabis plants. In other regions of the world, including North America and Europe, cannabis can only be cultivated outdoors during warmer seasons.

Additionally, Colombia is located in the Andes Mountain range and has an average altitude of roughly 2,600 meters. Cannabis cultivated at higher altitudes requires less pest control than cannabis cultivated at lower altitudes.

Due to those factors and other factors, quality cannabis can be cultivated in Colombia for as cheap as $.06 per gram of dried flower – a fraction of what it costs to produce dried cannabis flower in North America and Europe, which can be as much as $2 per gram of dried flower.

Colombia has major cannabis production advantages over other regions that simply cannot be replicated, and the legal international cannabis business community is taking notice. Large companies are relocating their production facilities to Colombia and/or teaming up with domestic producers at an ever-increasing rate.

The opportunities in Colombia and the surrounding region are substantial, but getting in on the ground floor in a meaningful way can be tricky. It requires proper due diligence and networking with the right people at the right place and time.

A great opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, and other industry members to learn more about Colombia’s emerging legal cannabis industry is coming up in Medellín, Colombia at the 2024 Cannaworld Congress where policy experts and industry leaders from the region and around the world will converge.

The 4th installment of the Cannaworld Congress, which is taking place on November 12th and 13th, 2024 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Medellín, will focus on medical cannabis policy, industrial hemp, and the emerging global industry.

Another great opportunity is the 7th installment of the EXPOMEDEWEED conference, which is taking place alongside the Cannaworld Congress from November 11th to 13th at the Intercontinental Hotel. EXPOMEDEWEED is the largest international cannabis industry event focused on the Latin and South American regions.

ExpoMedeWeed Is Coming To Colombia On November 24th-26th

Written by Johnny Green on November 13, 2023. Posted in Business, Policy.

Colombia is one of the most exciting places for all things cannabis right now. As the nation continues to work toward modernizing its cannabis policies the South American nation is rapidly becoming an international cannabis industry leader.

An amazing event is coming up in Colombia at the end of the month and we are encouraging people to attend. Below is more information about the event:

ExpoMedeWeed is an annual event that has established itself as the epicenter for the integration of businesses, knowledge, and culture around the Cannabis industry. As tradition dictates, this sixth edition is accompanied by the International Medical Cannabis Seminar, a top-level academic space that brings together prominent researchers, academics, and professionals with the aim of exploring issues in depth, updating concepts, and creating crucial initiatives to drive the generation and dissemination of knowledge for the Cannabis industry.

This fair, organized by MERCOAGRÍCOLA S.A.S., will take place on November 24, 25, and 26, 2023, at the Plaza Mayor Convention and Exhibition Center in the city of Medellín – Colombia. It offers attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to interact in the trade show, the academic seminar, and the business matchmaking event for the industry, activities that will take place during this important event.

Our main topic for this year is the Dissemination of pedagogical approaches for teaching medicinal cannabis industry knowledge at both national and international levels. an approach based on the following thematic axes:

1. Medical cannabis supply chain
Lessons learned of projects that link activities related to the medical cannabis supply chain such as: small and medium growers, agro-industrial processes, manufacturing, import and/or export.

2. Contribution to the health area
Projects aimed at developing activities of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services whose main or exclusive objectives are to promote the health of individuals or population groups.

3. Legislation and research
Approach to the correct reading and interpretation of the regulations established for the production, use and research of medical cannabis in Colombia.

We look forward to having you at the ExpoMedeWeed 2023.

Purchase tickets at: www.expomedeweed.com

info@expomedeweed.com
www.expomedeweed.com

Where Does Colombia Export Legal Cannabis Flower To?

Written by Hazel Norman on July 23, 2023. Posted in Business.

A new report is out in Colombia that provides insight into the South American country’s emerging legal medical cannabis export industry. Last year marked the first time in Colombia’s history that regulated medical cannabis flower was exported to another nation. Since that time, over five dozen permitted shipments have occurred or are in the process of occurring.

Colombia is home to one of the most ideal climates for cultivating cannabis on the entire planet and has long served as a top international source for unregulated cannabis flower. In recent years, policymakers and regulators in Colombia have increased efforts to transition the country’s cannabis industry from being controlled by cartels to being operated by licensed and regulated entities.

Legal medical cannabis imports and exports are a relatively new thing at the global level, and multiple countries are now trying to gain a foothold in the emerging area of the global cannabis industry. According to domestic reporting, Colombia has shipped low-THC cannabis to several countries. Per Bloomberg:

According to information provided to Bloomberg Linea by the Colombia Agricultural Institute (ICA), there have been reports, to date, of 65 exports of this type, some of which are close to materializing.

Of that total, the largest shipment was one of 186,000 grams of dried cannabis flower, with a maximum THC (psychoactive component) content of 0.01%. The dat of export was from June 23 to July 7 of this year and the destination: Switzerland.

ICA also reported a May shipment of 102,500 grams that also went to Switzerland, which was the second largest export. That batch of cannabis flower contained 0.574% THC content. Another 65,000 grams were exported to Australia, with a reported 24.01% THC content.

In total, 18 shipments went to Australia, 16 to Switzerland, 12 to Germany, 8 to the United States, 4 to Israel, 2 to Portugal, Ecuador, and Brazil, and 1 to the Czech Republic.