Colombia Considers Allowing Cannabis Imports: Experts Say It Makes No Sense
By Javier Hasse via El Planteo
The release of a draft resolution by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) regarding phytosanitary requirements for importing dried cannabis flower from Canada has raised alarms in the industry. While this is not yet a final decision, business leaders and industry experts warn of the potential negative effects on national production.
Lucas Nosiglia, a cannabis industry expert with extensive experience in the Colombian market, sums it up clearly: “Defining phytosanitary requirements does not mean that cannabis has already been imported from Canada… It means that ICA has determined what requirements are necessary for this to happen.”
However, he adds that the move makes neither economic nor political sense: “Colombia has the capacity to produce top-quality cannabis flower at much more competitive costs than Canada.”
The Problem Of Canadian Oversupply
The root of this issue is clear: Canada is producing more cannabis than it can sell. After the legalization boom, companies grew rapidly, generating an oversupply that they are now looking to offload in emerging markets. Nosiglia explains: “Canada may have an interest in exporting because they produce more than they sell—this is the aftermath of the industry boom where companies expanded beyond what was necessary.”
According to a report by MJBizDaily, since 2018, Canada has destroyed nearly 1,700 tons of cannabis due to a lack of demand. Overproduction has been a persistent problem, …