Colombia: When will sales of cannabis flowers start? There is no set date, says ex-official

Article about El Planteo

Colombia could be on the verge of taking a decisive step in regulating medical cannabis with a new draft decree that would allow the sale of dry cannabis flowers. However, Efrain Lopez, Director of Árpez company and former official of the Ministry of Justice emphasizes that no fixed date has been set for the final implementation of the decree.

“The ban on prescribing dried flowers was introduced in Decree 613 of 2017 and since then access to cannabis flowers has been completely restricted in Colombia,” says Efraín. Colombia has been a pioneer in legalizing medical cannabis in Latin America, but patients have only had access to compounded formulations, topicals and cosmetic products, leaving a gap in therapeutic options.

New opportunities for patients

The new decree, already submitted for public consultation, would open the possibility of prescribing and selling dry cannabis flowers in Colombia, both as a personalized compound preparation and as a finished product available in pharmacies.

This change would be a significant victory for patients who have waited more than seven years for access to dried flowers known for their immediate therapeutic effects. However, the path to implementation will not be quick.

Regulatory path for the sale of cannabis flowers in Colombia: what happens next?

Efraín explains that it will take a few months to consider the comments following the public consultation. “In such cases, for short decrees, the review process should not last longer than two to three months.” After this phase, the decree goes through the final review by the President’s Administrative Department before being submitted to the President for signature.

Even after this review, there is no fixed deadline for the President to sign the decree. “There is no specific time frame for the issuance of the decree. “It’s at the authority’s discretion,” adds Efraín, meaning patients can expect further delays before seeing cannabis flowers in pharmacies.

Lack of scientific knowledge: a hurdle lies ahead

A recurring theme in the discussion was the lack of solid scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of inhaling cannabis flowers.

“Some well-known doctors … have stated that there is not enough technical rigor or scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness and safety of inhaled flowers,” says Efraín. These concerns are not unique to Colombia, as the global medical community continues to debate the potential harmful effects of inhaled cannabis.

So, When can patients in Colombia have access to cannabis flowers?

Although the public consultation ended on October 4, 2024, Efraín believes it will The sale of dried flowers in pharmacies can last between one and a half and two years. “The fastest scenario would be for Invima.” [the regulatory body, similar to the FDA] “update the Good Manufacturing Practices Guide for cannabis-based compound preparations to include dried flower,” he notes. Compound formulations, which require a less rigorous process than finished products, are likely to be the first step in the market.

Efraín emphasizes that this progress reflects the president’s political will Gustavo Petro, who has been campaigning for drug policy reforms since taking office. “With the political will that I believe exists, we are moving forward,” affirms Efraín, pointing out that this decree is also an integral part of the new drug policy aimed at promoting economic transformation in rural areas advance those affected by drug trafficking.