By Sharith Tovar, Economist Coordinator of the Colombian Observatory of the Cannabis Industry (OCIC)

In 2024, during the 67th Meeting of the United Nations Commission on Drugs, a global precedent was set that broke with what was then known as the war on drugs. The majority of countries participating in the forum, including Colombia, voted for a change in the approach to drug control and the global situation related to the issue. This new perspective is based on harm reduction strategies — meaning the issue is primarily treated as a public health problem, rather than through the criminalization of users.

In the specific case of cannabis, this new approach would allow for the elimination of stigmas associated with consumption, as stated by Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo during the plenary session. Additionally, it would ensure that this plant is available in a controlled manner for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.

The truth is that Colombia has a long history linked to drug trafficking, marked by violence, inequality, and the absence of the state in various regions of the country. For more than twenty years, the Colombian state sustained the war against drug trafficking, with funding from international cooperation. This policy deepened prejudices, not only against consumers but also against other actors involved in the chain, such as growers or those who lend their land for planting — often people merely trying to survive the harsh local conditions. Therefore, effective progress in implementing the new National Drug Policy is crucial to addressing the challenges and stigmatization that still persist, for example, around the cannabis plant.

With a ten-year projection, this policy arises from dialogue with residents of areas most affected by drug trafficking. Its goal is to tackle poverty, exclusion, inequality, and violence as causes that lead people to engage in activities related to crops considered illicit. But, beyond offering alternatives for productive conversion, and as proposed by President Gustavo Petro himself, it is necessary to advance in the legalization and control of other uses of cannabis, as well as in the revitalization of exports, as this can also positively impact security in territories like Cauca.

The populations that participated in the dialogues for the development of the new policy are historically marginalized and belong mostly to indigenous, black, and rural communities. They clearly expressed the intention to develop alternative business models that not only provide them with adequate living conditions in legitimate activities but also protect the environment and life. In this context, two key messages deserve attention in 2025:

• The implementation of the “Productive Development of Cannabis and Hemp Industries” strategy, promoted by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Colombia Productiva. The Ministry projects that by 2028, global demand for industrial hemp could reach $4.9 billion, while demand for medicinal cannabis could reach $22.46 billion. This scenario has sparked the interest of entrepreneurs, who since last year have been participating in various fronts of the initiative (training, co-financing of projects, business rounds, and specialized studies on the sector).
• Discussions in Congress around Bill 099 of 2023, which proposes an amendment to the Colombian Penal Code to incorporate differentiated treatment for small producers of illicit crops.

Indeed, it is essential that the cannabis industry be fully regulated and that fair trade be promoted. This implies considering the unique and complex dynamics and realities faced by small and medium growers, producers, and traders.

In conclusion, the change in approach to dealing with the drug issue is beneficial, especially in light of the current scenario of cannabis legalization in various parts of the world. An impartial and oriented policy not towards the eradication of the plant, but towards addressing the causes that lead to illicit production, combined with regulation that allows for the responsible development of the industry, offers a promising perspective. The legalization of cannabis, as we proposed at the OCIC, stimulates business creation, job generation, and the development of historically precarious areas. The new National Drug Policy proposes a path for these populations to transition to legality, taking advantage of the potential of a relatively new sector, and shaping it in a way aligned with the challenges of the 21st century: combating inequality and improving environmental conditions.