You might not have heard much about the Columbian cannabis market up until now, but it’s about to reshape everything from how to make firecrackers to the pharmaceutical industry.
The Colombian government just relaxed export regulations for its cannabis industry. Prior to this change, companies were heavily restricted in terms of what they could export for their cannabis products. Now, companies can export dry flower which means that one of the world’s biggest cannabis producers is about to enter the international market.
Let’s take a look at the changes that have happened to the cannabis market in Columbia and what that means for people here in the United States.
Columbia Just Relaxed Export Regulation for Cannabis
Cannabis has been legal in the country of Colombia since 2016, but there have been some restrictions in place for that legality.
Many of these restrictions focus on how the domestic Colombian cannabis industry interacts with the international market. This has been a complicated political issue both internally in Colombia as well as on a global scale.
Cannabis legislation isn’t consistent across the world. Just consider here in the United States where some states have legal cannabis, but others don’t. There’s also no consistency for the laws between states. The same problem plays out on a global scale.
We can compare the Cannabis industry to the alcohol industry. While there are some countries that ban alcohol, and plenty that have their own internal laws and regulations, there are accepted standards for shipping alcohol on an international scale.
Columbia just took a bold step forward in reshaping not only their domestic cannabis market, but also continuing their history of being a leader in legal cannabis. By carving out their niche into the international market.
In order to wrap our heads around the Columbian cannabis market, we need to understand why this country is so good at growing cannabis.
Understanding Why Columbia is Ideal for Cannabis
While those firecracker edibles you’re enjoying might not have Colombian heritage, this is one of the best countries in the world for growing weed.
Who’s the biggest thing about why cannabis is so successful in Colombia. Columbia has an ideal climate, as well as ideal growing conditions, for cannabis. It’s high-elevation, minimal seasonal change, excellent sunlight, and other factors come together to create the perfect climate for growing cannabis. While other parts of the world are stuck recreating this environment using greenhouses and other technology, Colombian canvas farmers simply need to get outdoors to get access to the perfect climate for weed.
There are also plenty of financial reasons why the cannabis market in Colombia has been so successful. Investment into this market is simply more affordable than investing into the cannabis market in the United States or Canada. This has caused plenty of companies and individuals to put money into the Colombian cannabis market to further its success.
The Export Market for Weed
Soon you might be learning how to make firecrackers using Columbian weed.
Currently, cannabis is only legal for pharmaceutical purposes in the country of Colombia. However, the success of the cannabis industry is causing many individuals to predict sweeping changes for how Columbia approaches cannabis law.
There is a domestic gray market for recreational cannabis in Columbia just like there is in most other countries. Activists, investors, and government officials are starting to see the potential of legal cannabis for the betterment of society. The same success Columbia has found with its pharmaceutical cannabis industry might also be found in a recreational market.
This isn’t to say that the recreational market is necessary for the success of the Columbian cannabis market. One of the biggest considerations that investors are looking into is cannabis as an alternative to opioids. The opioid epidemic here in the United States has caused damage to countless lives. Cannabis could be one way to relieve this problem.
No matter which way you look at it, the Columbian cannabis export laws are going to shake up the international market. We can expect to see Colombian grown in pharmaceutical grade cannabis hitting the international market pretty soon.