“We are the power”: Martín Santos celebrates Duque’s decision to export cannabis

Colombian government issued the decree on Friday removing the ban on the export of dried cannabis flowers for medicinal purposes, scientists and industrialists seeking to open new markets for their producers and to promote economic reactivation in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic.

“With this decree, we are placing ourselves at the forefront in terms of regulatory competitiveness, at least in Latin America and the Caribbean”President Iván Duque said when signing the decree at a cannabis processing company located in Boyacá, in the center of the country. “The trade in dried flowers is growing at a scale never seen before to the point of saying that it could represent about 53% of this world market”added.

Before the news, Martin santos, son of former president Juan Manuel Santos, admitted Duque for authorizing the export of cannabis.

“We must thank President Iván Duque for signing the decree that authorizes the export of dried cannabis flowers. We are the power and we cannot be left behind “he trill.

A few months ago, the portal “El Expediente”, directed by the uribista Gustavo Rúgeles, noted that Martín Santos would be involved in medical marijuana businesses, as part of the company “Methodical advice”, Through which they would be part of the licensing procedures in Colombia.

Moreover, in an interview with Semana, Senator Gustavo Petro said that “the children of a former president” they would be in the legal marijuana business.

Santos was open about the issue of decriminalizing all drugs, in an interview he had with Pulzo. “This is quite a controversial initiative in a country that is so conservative and has suffered so much from drug trafficking, but it is a war the world has already lost and drug traffickers won long ago.”, he claimed.

About the Duque decree

The new decree, which replaces another published in 2017, responds to requests from representatives of the medical cannabis industry in the country, who have called for greater regulatory clarity and endorsement to export dried flowers as it prevented them from d ” enter a segment of the most lucrative and international market.

“Colombia has the right to win in this industry, we have the agro-climatic conditions, the human talent in the agro-industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Now a regulation which evolves to be more competitive for our country “said at the event Julián Wilches, director of corporate and regulatory affairs at cannabis company Clever Leaves.

Cannabis flower will also be allowed to enter free zones to be cut, dried and to perform processing, packaging and repackaging activities, the Justice Department said in a statement.

President Duque indicated that with this regulation, the country will not only focus on the pharmaceutical use of cannabis, but will also be able to innovate in cosmetics, develop the use of components in food and drink , as well as in clothing and textiles.

The new standard strengthens the requirements for licensing and extends them to 10 years, whereas they were initially valid for 5 years. In addition, more severe measures are put in place to cancel them, for example, in the event that they do not develop the activities for which they were granted.

The use of medicinal cannabis in Colombia was first regulated in 2017, which has boosted foreign investment in the country and more than 600 companies have been licensed. “Today we have around 18 large international foreign investment companies entering to play in Colombia”, noted President Duque.

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