Consult With a Doctor

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 If you don’t see the answer to your question on this list, please contact us and we will answer you.

Cannabis doctor Rocio Vargas
Is weed legal in Colombia?

Yes, marijuana is mostly legal in Colombia, but with specific restrictions. Individuals can legally possess up to 20 grams of marijuana for personal use and can grow up to 20 plants at home. While medical and industrial marijuana are fully legal under regulation, recreational use exists in a grey area where enforcement can vary by region, and the commercial sale of recreational marijuana remains illegal.

In Colombia, you can buy medical cannabis from pharmacies that offer medical marijuana products, but you must first obtain a prescription from a certified medical specialist. The process involves consulting with a doctor who specializes in medical cannabis to determine eligibility and get a prescription, after which you can purchase cannabis-based products such as oils, tinctures, capsules, or topical creams from authorized pharmacies. It’s important to note that attempting to purchase cannabis without a prescription could lead to legal issues, as the commercial sale of recreational cannabis remains illegal in Colombia.

Medical cannabis refers to any cannabis or cannabis-based products that are prescribed by certified medical professionals for treating or managing medical conditions and symptoms. While it’s the same plant as recreational cannabis, medical cannabis is distinguished by its intended medical use and often comes in formulated products like oils, tinctures, and capsules rather than raw plant form. In Colombia specifically, medical cannabis requires a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner and is used to treat various conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and cancer-related symptoms.

Recreational cannabis, also known as “adult-use cannabis,” refers to cannabis that is consumed purely for pleasure rather than medical purposes. It is used to induce effects like relaxation, euphoria, altered sensory perception, and heightened creativity, and can be consumed in various ways including smoking, vaporizing, eating cannabis-infused foods, or using cannabis-based products like creams and lotions. While legal in many places, it’s important to note that recreational cannabis can have side effects such as cognitive impairment, potential lung damage from smoking, and risks of dependency with heavy use.

In Colombia, the main differences lie in legality, access, and product form. Medical cannabis is fully legal but requires a prescription and comes only in the form of processed cannabis-based products (like oils or tinctures) from certified suppliers. Recreational cannabis, while partially legal, has more restrictions – you can possess up to 20 grams and grow up to 20 plants for personal use, but commercial sale remains illegal. Additionally, while recreational cannabis typically comes in raw plant form with higher THC levels for psychoactive effects, medical cannabis products have carefully balanced CBD/THC ratios tailored to specific medical conditions.

Cannabis cultivation is legal in Colombia for both personal and commercial purposes, but with specific regulations. For personal use, individuals can grow up to 20 plants at home on private property, but selling this cannabis remains illegal. For commercial cultivation, two types of licenses are available: Psychoactive Cannabis Cultivation License and Non-Psychoactive Cannabis Cultivation License, both requiring significant fees and documentation. These commercial licenses allow for large-scale cultivation for medical, research, and industrial purposes, but recreational sales are still prohibited.

Cannabis exportation is legal in Colombia for medical and scientific purposes under Decree 613 (2017) and Decree 811 (2021). The country allows the export of cannabis plants, seeds, dried flowers, plant components, and both psychoactive and non-psychoactive derivatives, but exporters must obtain several licenses including cultivation, manufacturing, and export licenses, as well as specific permits for each shipment. Additionally, exporters must comply with strict regulatory requirements regarding product standards, traceability, security measures, and international laws, and can only work with legally licensed entities in destination countries.

Medical cannabis has been scientifically shown to help with several physical and mental health conditions. For physical conditions, it can effectively manage chronic pain (especially neuropathic pain), reduce inflammation, control seizures (with particularly strong evidence for epilepsy), improve insomnia, and alleviate symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. For mental health, cannabis can help manage anxiety, depression, and PTSD, though results vary by individual. However, it’s important to consult a specialist for a prescription, as cannabis can have side effects and isn’t suitable for everyone.

CBD gummies are legal in Colombia, but with important distinctions. Medical CBD gummies are fully legal but require a prescription and must be purchased from certified suppliers. While it’s legal to possess and consume recreational CBD gummies, their commercial sale is prohibited. The only legal ways to obtain CBD gummies in Colombia are either through a prescription for medical cannabis, someone gives you them, or by making them yourself using cannabis you’ve grown (limited to 20 plants for personal use).

Currently, Uruguay is the only Latin American country where marijuana is fully legal, but several other countries have partial legalization. Countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru have legalized cannabis for medical use, with varying levels of personal use decriminalization. However, many Latin American countries still maintain strict laws criminalizing marijuana possession, cultivation, and consumption, including El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Venezuela, Guyana, and French Guiana.

Yes, Colombia has cannabis dispensaries, but only for medical cannabis – there are no legal recreational dispensaries in the country. Medical cannabis dispensaries require customers to have a prescription and typically sell cannabis-based products like oils, tinctures, capsules, and other formulated products rather than raw cannabis. Since recreational cannabis sales are prohibited in Colombia, those seeking cannabis for recreational use must either grow their own (limited to 20 plants) or receive small amounts (up to 20g) from others who share their personal supply.

You can fly with medical cannabis within Colombia if you have a prescription from a certified Colombian medical cannabis expert and the cannabis was purchased from a licensed dispensary in the country. However, flying into or out of Colombia with medical cannabis is more complex and risky – it’s recommended to avoid flying internationally with any cannabis products, as Colombia has strict anti-drug trafficking laws with penalties up to 25 years in prison. While there’s no legal limit on how much medical cannabis you can carry when flying domestically, it’s advisable to keep quantities reasonable to avoid any suspicion of trafficking.

Penalties for breaking cannabis laws in Colombia vary depending on the type and severity of the violation. For possession of more than 20g of recreational cannabis or growing more than 20 plants, penalties can include confiscation, fines, and possible imprisonment. Selling recreational cannabis is treated most severely, with potential prison sentences of 6 to 15 years. For medical cannabis violations, such as purchasing without a prescription, penalties can include confiscation, fines, and potential legal charges. Business-related violations, like breaking licensing regulations, can result in license revocation, heavy fines, asset confiscation, and possible imprisonment.

While medical marijuana flowers do exist, they are not considered medical cannabis in Colombia under current regulations. In Colombia, only processed cannabis products are legally classified as medical cannabis, so even if you obtain dried flowers directly from medical cannabis manufacturers, they would still be considered recreational cannabis. However, medical cannabis flowers can be found easily if you cultivate your own cannabis in Colombia!

Yes, tourists can legally use marijuana in Colombia, but with specific restrictions. Tourists can obtain medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries with a prescription from a Colombian medical cannabis expert. For recreational use, tourists can legally possess up to 20 grams and can grow up to 20 plants, but cannot legally purchase recreational marijuana as its commercial sale is prohibited. Tourists can either grow their own cannabis (from legally purchased seeds) or receive small amounts as gifts from friends, but must stay within the 20-gram possession limit.