In an ever-evolving global medical cannabis industry landscape in which new products are being developed and introduced into the market on an ongoing basis, raw cannabis flower remains the product of choice for many suffering patients.

Allowing patients to access and consume cannabis flower is a vital component of an effective approach to medical cannabis. Consuming cannabis flower provides faster relief compared to many other consumption methods, and safe access to cannabis flower also allows patients to regulate their dosages more easily and prepare other forms of medical cannabis, such as tinctures and edibles.

Colombia is home to an emerging legal medical cannabis industry, and the South American nation recently announced a major change to its safe access approach to medical cannabis. Colombia will now allow cannabis flower to be used for medical and therapeutic purposes.

“The Colombian government issued Decree 1138 of 2025, a regulation that changes the rules on cannabis use in Colombia and authorizes, for the first time, the use of the plant’s flower for medical purposes. From now on, pharmacies and drugstores will be able to sell the product to people with medical certifications.” reported Blu Radio in its local reporting (translated from Spanish to English).

“The decree establishes that cannabis flower may be used to produce medicines, creams, or prescription preparations, provided they have the approval of health authorities. It also allows small and medium-sized growers to participate in this legal market, with simplified procedures and state support to strengthen their projects.” the outlet also reported.

Colombian lawmaker Juan Carlos Losada described the announcement as “good progress”, but also added that there is still a need to allow national regulated adult-use cannabis product sales in the Colombian market.

“It is essential that the National Government establish a presence in the territories that have historically cultivated cannabis; these communities need to understand the scope of the decree. For years, they have demanded to be included in the legal cannabis supply chain. This is how illegality is combated.” the lawmaker wrote in a social media post (translated from Spanish to English).

“On the one hand, we welcome the government’s decision to take this measure, although it took a long time and the necessary regulations are still lacking.” the lawmaker also stated. “On the other hand, this does not replace the need to regulate adult cannabis use; they are two completely different contexts. This decree is solely for patients who have been requesting access to quality cannabis for years.”

“Finally, we urgently call on the National Government to visit Northern Cauca, explain the scope of the decree to the growers, and implement a rural development program that will allow them to enter the legal cannabis production chain.” he added.