Medical Marijuana: an alternative business for Latin America
Several countries in the region move forward in the implementation of cannabis for medicinal purposes
According to the Colombian Senator Juan Manuel Galán, countries such as Peru, Mexico, Uruguay, and Colombia may posses the solution when it comes to exporting medical marijuana.
The congressman explained that "there is great interest in the region. Let 's say Colombia moved very strongly when it come to regulation, but moved better than other countries perhaps by the desire they had to regulate, they realized they made mistakes, same as Uruguay ".
Galan said in an interview with the Latin American Post that he believes "that Peru is watching closely the experience of Colombia, the same is happening in Costa Rica and Mexico, where there was progress thanks to cases of children with epilepsy who have filed lawsuits against the courts. Brazil has perhaps been the most reluctant to take such measures, but I think when it decides to do so, it will have a very strong impact on the region. "
Today, according to Revista Semana, there are 21 companies licensed to grow medical marijuana in Colombia. Several of these companies are Canadian, American, Israeli, and Mexican capital. According to the report , it is expected to market the medicinal cannabis throughout South America, which would amount to around $30,000 million a year.
Medicinal uses of marijuana
Indeed, marijuana is an ancient plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years. Its uses range from raw material to manufacture textiles with hemp, to medical use, as well as its psychoactive qualities.
According to the National Institute of Drug Surveillance Food and Colombia, Invima, medical cannabis "is the use of Sumidades flowering or fruiting plant genus Cannabis (excluding the seeds and leaves when not accompanied by the tops ), their preparations and their active metabolites, called cannabinoids (tetrahydrocannabinol them entity or THC, cannabidiol or CBD and CBN or cannabinol) among others, as therapy for certain diseases or alleviate symptoms".
According to several studies, marijuana combats migraine, arthritis, asthma, cancer, Alzheimer helps prevent, and reduces episodes of epilepsy, among other.
According to the senator, "progress in Colombia has been very significant in a short time since the adoption of the law, the adoption of the Decree of the law and the resolution that issued the ministries of justice, health and participation of the ministry of agriculture. I believe that significant progress is needed".
Juan Manuel Galán has been the leader of the moment that fights for the legalization of medical marijuana in Colombia, because one of his relatives has benefited from its use. Colombia 's political hopes assures that "there will never be a drug – free world (…) but a world free from drug abuse is possible."
Latin American Post | Santiago Gómez Hernández
Copy edited by Susana Cicchetto
