Infobae reports
The Colombian company NatuEra was in charge of collaborating with the United States in the investigations they are conducting to demonstrate that THC can be legalized medicinally
Colombia carried out, for the first time legally, an export to the United States of an extract with a high content of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main piscoactive cannabinoid derived from cannabis and a controlled substance under international treaties.
On March 30, the Colombian company NatuEra, a subsidiary of the Canadian Cronos Group, sent THC extract to the American company Biopharmaceutical Research Company, which will use it for scientific research to analyze the composition and safety of cannabis in vapor form. , the results of this study will serve to guide the public policy discussions that are advancing in that country on the legalization of cannabis at the federal level through a responsible and science-based regulatory framework.
In other words, the study will be decisive for the legalization of the consumption of this substance. Colombia was the country in charge of participating in this process, since it is believed that the country has the necessary measures to offer a product of good quality and control.
In dialogue with Nicolas Nannetti, CEO of NatuEra, the director told Infobae the importance of this collaboration and why pharmaceutical companies are seeking to study TCH in a medicinal way. In addition, he assured that the product exported from the country is adequate for the academy to verify that the substance can be used medicinally.
The amount of TCH exported from the country was 30 milliters, in three containers of 10 milliliters each, this amount is what is normally used for research and development issues. Usually a very small amount is used to be able to subject it to the necessary analyzes in this investigation.
This first shipment of cannabis with a high THC content was exported by NatuEra from Colombia, with the authorization of the National Narcotics Fund, and imported into the United States under a permit from the DEA, granted to BRC.
This constitutes the first export-import of psychoactive cannabis extract with a high THC content from Colombia to the United States, carried out in compliance with the applicable regulations.
Legal exports of Colombian cannabis reached 5 million dollars in 2020, with an increase of 1,600% in relation to sales abroad in 2019, as reported in recent days by the Colombian Association of Cannabis Industries (Asocolcanna), which brings together 32 companies, which represent 90 percent of the country’s legal production.
“This is very positive growth because we are already beginning to see that companies are reaching market time. This means that they are finding applicants for their products and, although it is a result below expectations, the route to the international market is opening up ”, commented the president of the trade association Rodrigo Arcila.
The most exported, according to the union, are natural juices and extracts (US $ 2,909,361); followed by products related to beauty, makeup and skin care, which occupy second place with US $ 673,684; in the third row are the other chemical compounds derived from cannabis, which are known as polyphenols (US $ 622,468).
Despite the good figures, Colombian cannabis producers continue to insist before the national government that permits be granted to export dried flower for medicinal purposes.
“T he dried cannabis flower, in addition to being a raw material, is also a finished product. In fact, it is the most prescribed and with the highest sales in the United States, Canada and Germany, where it represents more than 50% of sales to patients in dispensaries ”, stated, in an interview with Portafolio, Camilo de Guzmán, NatuEra’s legal vice president.
However, the authorities still have reservations about it. “This creates greater challenges for the control and prevention of the diversion of narcotic drugs, as well as the reevaluation of the possibility of allowing the prescription of cannabis without transformation in Colombia, when the competent entities have not accepted it due to the lack of national research that proves its benefits. ”Reflected the Minister of Justice, Wilson Ruiz.
