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Colombia’s cannabis market has had a tumultuous journey to date, with just a fraction of its potential as a global cultivation powerhouse being fulfilled.
Flawed regulation, bureaucracy and the negative perception of its cannabis exports have hampered its development, despite regulation for legal cannabis production being introduced in 2016.
However, as discussed in Prohibition Partners’ new Global Cannabis Report: 5th Edition, recent regulatory changes and export growth have renewed hope for Colombian businesses and farmers.
One such business, Cansultancy, is hoping to capitalise on this renewed hope and show the world what Colombian cannabis can offer.
“We know Colombian genetics and cultivars are phenomenal—unique products that the world hasn’t seen before. Our goal is to make Colombia the first choice for large-scale purchasers in Europe,” they told Business of Cannabis.
Colombia’s market
After regulations for cannabis cultivation were introduced in 2016, some 2500 licences were awarded, covering some 10,000 hectares of farmland.
Despite this, by 2023, just 40 of these licensed companies were operational, and just 15 hectares were being actively farmed.
Consultancy’s Eduardo Munoz, who grew up in Colombia, explained: “At the beginning of the cannabis process in Colombia, growers were primarily preparing for what was expected to be a strong internal market. Unfortunately, due to bureaucracy and political misunderstandings, the internal market hasn’t gained much traction.”
New regulatory shifts aim to revitalise the domestic industry. In September 2024, Decree 821 was amended to permit the sale of cannabis flowers for medical treatments within Colombia, a move expected to benefit local producers.
However, most producers have already turned towards international markets, which promise both greater demand and greater margins.
In 2021, the country lifted its ban on the export of dried cannabis flower. But, following initial optimism, the growth in exported Colombian cannabis has slowed over the last few years.
In 2023, Colombia reported over US$10.8 million in exports, an increase from US$8.4 million in 2022 and US$4.2 million in 2021.
Of the total exports from 2023, 32% went to Brazil, 25% to Australia, and 14% to Germany, with those three countries therefore totalling 71% of Colombian cannabis exports.
Making Colombian cannabis the ‘first choice’ for Europe
Cansultancy, a cannabis brokerage firm based in Canada, recently acquired Colombia’s Farmadiol with a view to establish a presence and build relationships with local growers in the market.
Its Canadian founder, Michael Athill, who has been brokering deals and facilitating transactions in Canada for a number of years, told us: “In Canada, based on my experience, the market tends to focus internally first, then externally. Unfortunately, what often happens is second-rate products are sent overseas, while the best products stay in Canada.”
His partner, Eduardo, continued: “The dynamic in Colombia is different. We don’t have an internal market for cannabis. It’s like our coffee: Colombia produces some of the best coffee in the world, but we can’t afford to consume the best ourselves, so it’s exported. With cannabis, there is no domestic market at all, so exporting the best is our only option.”
Recognising the opportunity of the country’s ‘globally untapped cultivars,’ the pair are working to build a trusted network of local craft producers in the country, with a view to exporting cannabis into Europe.
This requires producers to meet the stringent GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) expected by European buyers.
“When we first entered Colombia, one of our key mandates was to figure out how to truly support these farmers. Historically, buyers—referred to as “buccaneers”—would take products from farmers without respect, sometimes paying late or not at all. This created a sense of mistrust and instability,” Michael explained.
“Our approach is different. Eduardo, being Colombian himself, and our local team have worked to build a trust network with these growers. We’re not just buyers—we’re partners.”
The bridges built between the growers and the company were based on Cansultancy’s efforts to guide them through the process of obtaining these certifications.
Eduardo said: “We’ve helped growers adopt GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) certifications, which are now more common and better understood in Colombia. Additionally, we’re collaborating with two labs in Colombia that are working towards achieving EU GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification, aiming to eventually have the first EU GMP-certified facilities in the country.
“These labs are also partnering with GMP-certified labs in Europe to streamline the process, ensuring that the final packaging meets European standards.”
Growers, he continued, are now starting to recognise the importance of formalising their operations to access international markets.
“The techniques and genetics have always been there—it was just about raising standards and preparing for export.”
With this network now in place, the pair are looking to take their first steps into Europe, hoping to showcase not only Colombia’s unique cultivars but the farmers’ ‘deep knowledge and exceptional ability to produce high-quality cannabis products’.
“We want to help export not only their flowers but also their genetics and cultivars to Europe. We aim to expose the world to these incredible Colombian genetics, cultivars, and growers—people whose work has often gone unnoticed. We are fortunate to have exclusive access to some of these hidden gems, and we’re excited to share their potential with the world.”
“}]] Colombia’s cannabis market has had a tumultuous journey to date, with just a fraction of its potential as a global cultivation powerhouse being fulfilled. Flawed regulation, bureaucracy and the negative Read More
