Colombian lawmakers approve marijuana legalization bill

Legalization approval follows years of medical cannabis expansion and export growth in Colombia.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

Colombian lawmakers have approved a marijuana legalization bill, according to Marijuana Moment. The move marks an escalation from the country's existing medical cannabis framework, which has been operationalized through pharmacy licensing, solar farm cultivation, and regulated exports valued at $10.8 million as of early 2024.

The approval appears to represent a formal shift toward broader adult-use access rather than medical-only restrictions. Earlier regulatory milestones—including medical flower approval in late 2025 and the opening of a specialized medical pharmacy in Medellín in March—suggest Colombia has been building infrastructure and regulatory competency ahead of this legalization step.

Watch for clarity on implementation timelines and licensing structure. The practical scope—whether legalization includes home cultivation, retail licensing, and taxation frameworks—will signal whether this represents a structural market expansion or a narrower statutory change.