South America: Market and legal data for the cannabis sector

Brazilian pharmaceutical company acquires Colombian cannabis giant

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th September 2024

Brazilian pharmaceutical company Ease Labs officially announced the acquisition this month of Plena, a cannabis cultivation and extraction company based in Colombia ...

Brazil becomes top market for Colombia’s cannabis exports amid regulatory shifts

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th September 2024

In 2023, nearly a third – around $3.4m – of Colombia's total cannabis exports went to Brazil, driven by regulatory shifts and Colombia’s determination to dominate the international cannabis market ...

Recreational cannabis bill advances in Colombia’s Congress, backed by president

Written by CannIntelligence | 4th September 2024

Though Colombia’s efforts to legalise and regulate adult-use cannabis have failed in recent years, lawmakers and the president hope a new bill will receive the backing necessary to further develop its cannabis market ...

Brazil looks to separate cannabis from crime via Supreme Court or legislature

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd April 2024

A positive result is expected in a Supreme Court challenge on Brazil’s already decriminalised penalties for cannabis possession, which could clearly delineate the amount permitted for personal use for the first time ...

The rise of cannabis clubs in Europe – the grassroots model regulators are adopting

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th February 2024

The cannabis social club model is now being incorporated by multiple European regulators. Born and developed outside a legal framework, it originated as an attempt to regulate cannabis production and consumption ...

Argentina's cannabis industry hopes Milei won't swing the policy pendulum

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st December 2023

The election of libertarian Javier Milei is causing as much worry as optimism in Argentina’s cannabis industry, which hopes for a commitment to the continuity of current public policies ...

Near miss in Colombia could have been Latin America’s cannabis breakthrough

Written by CannIntelligence | 10th August 2023

Attempts to legalise adult recreational cannabis use continue to stall across Latin America, with Colombia the latest example there of a nation where what looked a promising bid has fallen short ...

Argentina paves the way for the long-awaited launch of its hemp industry

Written by Sergi Riudalbàs Clemente | 9th August 2023

The Argentine government has finally put enough flesh on the bones of its laws to allow the development of a hemp industry and expansion of its medical cannabis sector ...

Can health insurance bring Colombia a medical cannabis boom like Germany’s?

Written by CannIntelligence | 27th June 2023

Making coverage of medical cannabis mandatory for insurers is one of the biggest potential spurs for growth in the sector. And companies operating in South America hope Colombia could follow the German path ...

Colombian bid to legalise recreational cannabis sales falls at the final hurdle

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd June 2023

In another setback to Latin America’s cannabis industry, a bill to legalise the sale of adult use cannabis in Colombia fell just short of the votes required in a final Senate debate ...

Colombia recreational cannabis bill in jeopardy after Senate debate fizzles out

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th June 2023

A historic law that seeks to legalise the sale and distribution of recreational cannabis in Colombia is in jeopardy of being shelved after the country’s Senate failed to vote on the initiative on 15th June...

Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice takes cannabis decision out of politicians’ hands

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd May 2023

While politicians leave the question unanswered, the growing and importing of low-THC cannabis for medical and industrial uses could become legal in Brazil through a decision by the country's most senior judges ...

An eager industry ready and waiting as Argentina launches its cannabis agency

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th February 2023

Argentina has taken another step towards establishing a national cannabis industry – though not fast enough to satisfy a large number of potential members eager to get on with it ...

Colombia ready to lead Latin America into a more cannabis-friendly future

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th January 2023

CannIntelligence reviews developments in cannabis regulation in Latin America in 2022 and looks forward to likely further opening-up of the industry in many of the region's nations in 2023 ...

A watershed year? 2022 sees cannabis on the rise, while CBD goes downhill

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th December 2022

This past year has seen a curious crossing of paths in the world of cannabis and cannabinoids, with concerns around CBD increasing even as many countries make moves towards the legalisation of cannabis ...

Legalisation is ‘least bad solution’ to cannabis consumption in France

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th October 2022

The senator leading a bid to legalise recreational cannabis in France has called legalisation “the least bad solution” to addressing cannabis consumption in the country, and has said he does not expect any measure to...

Colombia sees explosion in medical cannabis exports since rules changed

Written by CannIntelligence | 2nd September 2022

The 1st April change to permit the export of medical cannabis from Colombia has sparked an immediate boom in shipments from the South American country ...

Colombia's new president out to end 'war on drugs' and legalise recreational use

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th August 2022

Colombia’s first leftist president says the “war on drugs” has failed and it is now time to look to formerly prohibited crops such as cannabis to boost the country’s economy and bring some justice to...

Trouble in Lima – hemp bill’s chances tied up in Peru’s congressional crisis

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th August 2022

New legislation has been put forward in Peru to establish a framework for the production and commercialisation of hemp – but what are its chances of passing in a period of political turmoil? ...

Peruvian initiative aims to open up hemp industry for rural 'artisan' production

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th August 2022

A bill put forward in Peru seeks to establish regulation that would allow for the production and commercialisation of industrial hemp in the South American country ...

Argentina's hemp industry hoping new legal framework will encompass delta-8

Written by CannIntelligence | 19th July 2022

The Argentine hemp industry is hopeful that sales of delta-8 THC hemp products will be formally permitted under the country’s new legal framework for cannabinoids ...

International acquisitions chase share of growing global medicinal market

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 11th July 2022

The growth potential of demand for medicinal cannabis is inspiring cross-border acquisitions of pharmaceutical brands as businesses scale up to take a bigger slice of the global market ...

Incoming Colombian government has big plans for the country’s cannabis industry

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th July 2022

Colombian president-elect Gustavo Petro says he will prioritise development of the nation’s cannabis industry and is promising that he will improve regulation, expand the existing legal framework and clarify production regulation as well as decriminalise...

Guyana's leaders pin hopes on hemp bill to revive lost jobs and agriculture

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st June 2022

Government officials in Guyana believe the Industrial Hemp Bill, expected to be voted on by Parliament by the end of June, will be a big step towards the creation of a legal framework for hemp...

Peru's health ministry publishes draft legal framework for medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 3rd June 2022

The Peruvian Health Ministry has published a draft legal framework that will regulate the medicinal and therapeutic cannabis market following the 16th May resolution promising such a move ...

US at risk of missing huge opportunity in cannabis due to lack of federal reform

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 31st May 2022

The US is in danger of being left behind the burgeoning global cannabis market because of a lack of political will to commit to any form of federal cannabis reform ...

Argentina approves law to establish legal framework for cannabis and hemp

Written by CannIntelligence | 13th May 2022

Members of the Argentina Chamber of Deputies approved a law on 5th May that would establish a legal framework for the production, sale and export of medical cannabis as well as industrial hemp, a decision...

Optimism blooming as Uruguay's first medical cannabis harvest begins

Written by CannIntelligence | 25th April 2022

Yvy Life Sciences, the first company authorised to grow medical-grade cannabis plants in Uruguay, has started harvesting its first crops for this purpose ...

Argentine bill to establish legal cannabis industry set to be passed 'within weeks'

Written by CannIntelligence | 14th April 2022

Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies is expected to approve a bill creating a legal framework for the cultivation, manufacture and sale of medicinal cannabis and hemp “within two months”, CBD-Intel has been told ...

Argentina's president and development minister back cannabis framework

Written by CannIntelligence | 7th April 2022

Argentina’s president is urging the national Congress to approve a law this year that would establish a legal framework for the production and sale of medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp ...

Colombia at the forefront with two-tier THC limits for hemp plant parts

Written by Laura Garay Gómez | 31st March 2022

A two-tier THC limit providing more leniency for the production of flowers is the latest addition to Colombia’s strong cannabinoid regulatory foundations ...

South American legislation on cannabis and hemp will progress, if slowly, in 2022

Written by CannIntelligence | 8th February 2022

This is an important year for positive legislation affecting cannabinoids across South America, though some depends on election results and all of it will take a few years to take effect ...

Insurance rule 'a billion-dollar shot in the arm' for Colombian cannabis market

Written by CannIntelligence | 11th January 2022

Colombian insurance providers must now cover the cost of medical cannabis prescriptions, a move that could represent a “billion-dollar shift” in the market – and perhaps lay down a marker for other countries ...

Colombian insurance policy shows real intent to lead on cannabinoids

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th January 2022

Colombia has joined a select few countries now demanding mandatory coverage of medical cannabis by health insurance providers ...

Cannabis companies go on acquisition spree for US stores and tech companies

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 15th December 2021

Cannabis firms continued to expand their footprint through to the end of 2021, with the lucrative US market being the strategic focus of many acquisitions, covering retail chains and tech companies ...

Canadian firm Flora Growth picks Colombia for its cannabis production

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd October 2021

Toronto-based Flora Growth believes increasing legalisation will eventually lead to cannabis becoming a commodity much like any other crop, and has chosen to focus much of its cannabis production in Colombia ...

Brazilian report highlights theoretical growth but small current numbers

Written by CannIntelligence | 22nd October 2021

Interest in the Brazilian medical cannabinoid market is based on optimistic projections of growth continuing in the same vein rather than concrete current numbers, a domestic report has confirmed ...

Panama leads the way with Central America's first legal medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 5th October 2021

Panama is set to become the first country in Central America to legalise and regulate medicinal cannabis after the 44-member National Assembly voted unanimously in favour of doing so ...

Could Colombia's reversal on allowing medical cannabis flower exports impact the global market?

Written by CannIntelligence | 1st September 2021

There are always people claiming that new changes mean some such country will be "The next big X in cannabis or hemp". Recent examples include North Macedonia, Thailand, Brazil, Paraguay, Lesotho, Malawi, and of course,...

'Transcendental change' as president opens up Colombia to flower exports

Written by CannIntelligence | 26th August 2021

“Today, Colombia eliminates the prohibition of dried flower exports,” president Iván Duque said. “This means that Colombia will enter and participate in the international market in a big way.” ...

Brazil’s bill to legalise hemp and medical cannabis runs into a further snag

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th August 2021

A bill to legalise the cultivation and processing of hemp and medical cannabis in Brazil has been dealt a blow with a call for it to be debated and voted on by the country’s full...

Positive regulatory changes for CBD, hemp and cannabis in Uruguay

Written by CannIntelligence | 23rd August 2021

Uruguay is expected to become one of the first countries to officially legalise the use of CBD in ingestible products ...

Investor funding drives company growth and increases cannabis research

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 11th August 2021

New funding raised from investors will propel cannabis company expansion and research ...

Brazil moves closer to legalising medical cannabis, despite president's veto threat

Written by CannIntelligence | 21st June 2021

A bill that would allow the cultivation and processing of hemp and cannabis in Brazil has passed an important committee vote in the country’s lower legislative chamber – but serious obstacles remain ...

Small steps towards regulation raise big hopes for cannabinoids in Argentina

Written by CannIntelligence | 24th May 2021

Early moves towards a regulatory framework that would allow a cannabinoid industry in Argentina have been welcomed by insiders who hope ultimately to match or surpass the progress made by other South American nations ...

Not now, but soon – new industry bodies prepare for Brazil opening up to hemp

Written by CannIntelligence | 18th March 2021

Brazil still faces a serious attitude problem when it comes to advancing regulations for hemp and CBD, according to the leaders of two recently launched industry associations in the country ...

Delay and dispute over deal to get CBD into Brazil's public health system

Written by CannIntelligence | 30th December 2020

Efforts to supply the first CBD product to Brazil’s public healthcare system will have to wait a while longer – and there is some dispute between the institute preparing to produce it and the sponsors...

Costa Rica looks set to legalise hemp and medical cannabis production

Written by CannIntelligence | 9th October 2020

A Costa Rican bill legalising the production of hemp and medical cannabis looks likely to pass due to broad support from the ruling coalition and president ...

Hopes growing in Brazil for further legalisation of medical cannabis

Written by CannIntelligence | 28th September 2020

A proposal to be voted on by Brazilian legislators in the coming weeks could legalise the growing of hemp for industrial purposes and cannabis for medical use ...

Distribution deals show faith in future of European CBD retail

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 22nd July 2020

Firms from Israel and South America are showing faith in the European CBD market, and its bricks-and-mortar retail, with distribution deals to place their products in a growing number of outlets ...

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