Medicinal Cannabis Flower in Colombia May Be Released for Internal Use

If there is a country with a contradictory relationship with cannabis, it is Colombia. On one hand, medical marijuana has been legal since 2016, and conditions have been created for the development of a thriving industry capable of exporting the plant to various countries. On the other hand, the same exported medicinal cannabis is not available to Colombian patients. Not to mention adult use, whose legalization has been considered by Congress so many times that it's been lost count.

Proposal for regulatory change

Last year, signs of change emerged with a proposed amendment to Decree 811 of 2021, which currently prohibits the sale of medicinal cannabis flowers in the country. If changed, the decree will allow the legal availability of the flower in clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies. Today, patients only have access to cannabis derivatives, limiting therapeutic options.

However, since October 2024, there has been no significant progress on this issue.

New decree could enable internal trade

Now, it seems that this wait may be coming to an end. According to El Tiempo newspaper, the Colombian government has drafted a decree authorizing the internal trade of medicinal cannabis flower with a medical prescription.

Although the text has not yet been officially published, it is already being discussed by public figures, such as Congressman Juan Carlos Losada, the author of the measure. In an interview with El Tiempo, the lawmaker stated that the proposal is positive but came late. "It should have been published, at most, in the first year of the government," he said.

"Regulation is still pending, which may take more than six months or even a year. Thus, implementation is likely to be left to the next government, generating uncertainties."

What the new decree provides

With the new regulation, Colombian patients will be able to access medicinal cannabis flower in natura, provided they present a medical prescription. The decree modifies the concept of "finished product," adopting a broader definition that includes the plant as suitable for human or veterinary use, subject to prior authorization.

New THC limits and control

One of the most innovative points of the proposal is the establishment of a 1% THC limit for domestic commercialization. Currently, most countries use 0.3% as a parameter to differentiate hemp from psychoactive cannabis. Thus, products with a content above 1% will be considered "especially controlled" in Colombia.

Expansion of licenses and support for small producers

The proposal also expands cultivation licenses to supply the domestic and international markets. According to El Tiempo, these licenses will include activities such as importation, planting, harvesting, storage, commercialization, transportation, and distribution.

However, in the first two years after the decree is signed, only micro, small, and medium producers with authorization from the Ministry of Justice and the National Narcotics Fund will be able to cultivate the plant.

Social and economic impact

The measure represents an important advancement for both the productive sector, which faces difficulties in competing in the international market, and for Colombian patients who, until now, have not been able to fully enjoy the benefits of medicinal cannabis.

Content originally published on El Planteo