The Rise of Gamma Cannabis: A Surge in Purchases at Uruguayan Pharmacies

Uruguay launched a new, more potent strain of marijuana in the legal market in December 2022, called Gamma. This innovation has triggered a revolution in the country's cannabis industry, with pharmacies recording demand that has exceeded all expectations.

On September 13, the Institute for Regulation and Control of Cannabis (Ircca), the body responsible for regulating marijuana in Uruguay, announced that sales of Gamma Cannabis have skyrocketed since its launch.

The first weeks of commercialization set records, marking a milestone in the history of cannabis in the country, which legalized the controlled sale of the herb in 2017. Ircca also reported that they are facing difficulties in keeping stock levels up due to overwhelming demand. 

"We are working tirelessly to meet this growing market demand," the agency stated in an Instagram post. 

Gamma Cannabis, known for its potency, contains an impressive THC concentration of up to 15%. This significantly differentiates it from the other two strains available for sale since 2017, Alpha and Beta, which have a THC content of up to 9%. This difference in potency is one of the main factors driving the demand for this new strain. 

According to Ircca's projections, with the introduction of Gamma Cannabis into the legal market in Uruguay, this year's sales volume is expected to be equivalent to double that recorded in 2022. This demonstrates the rapid adaptation of consumers to the new strain and the growing acceptance of legalized marijuana in the country. 

Uruguayan Regulation 

In Uruguay, the sale of legalized marijuana is conducted under strict government regulation. There are three ways to obtain the product legally: through a personal cultivation license, via registered cultivation clubs, or by purchasing government-controlled marijuana at pharmacies.

These cannabis products sold in pharmacies are highly controlled by the government, which establishes their characteristics, including the precise amount of THC, the main active component responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana, explains Marco Algorta, who has been part of the controlled substances industry for medical use since 2013 and is considered one of the pioneers of the medicinal cannabis industry in South America: 

“The law does not normalize the use of cannabis in Uruguay; it has always existed. What it does is create a space for acceptance. However, the first genetics that the country made available in pharmacies contained very low amounts of the active ingredient (THC), which is what people are looking for.” 

The expert emphasizes, however, that there has not been an increase in consumption, but rather in the availability of a strain with higher concentrations of THC being offered in pharmacies currently. It is also worth noting that even with a high number of registrations in the country's pharmacies, consumers resorted to other forms of access, such as clubs and personal cultivation, which ensures the high concentration of the psychoactive substance.  

As Gamma Cannabis continues to gain popularity and demand multiplies, Uruguay is solidifying itself as a pioneer in the regulation and responsible commercialization of marijuana. This rising trend is a testament to the growing acceptance and recognition of the therapeutic and recreational benefits of cannabis throughout the country.