Colombian government officials have confirmed that the country plans to legalize the cultivation and sale of marijuana for medical and research purposes.
President Juan Manuel Santos is set to sign an executive order that will regulate all aspects of marijuana cultivation and distribution, from grower licensing to the regulation of exports.
The move marks a shift for Colombia, which has long supported U.S.-backed anti-drug policies in the region.
Sen. Juan Manuel Galan, who introduced similar legislation last year, said that some 400,000 Colombians who suffer from a variety of ailments could benefit from the legalization of medical marijuana.
John Campo, president of the U.S.-based company Sannabis, is currently developing cannabis oils, creams, and other products on an indigenous reservation in Colombia. He said, “our phones are ringing off the hook as we get ready for the next chapter.”
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Photo Credit: Julián Ortega Martínez