The production, distribution and sale of cannabis by the Uruguayan state could take an unexpected turn - or for now one that was not in the calculations of President Jose Mujica when it promoted the measure - if the administration of Tabar Vzquez decides to support the , At least one of the two companies that won the bid for state marijuana to export cannabis for medicinal purposes, business sources told El Observador.
The idea, which has already reached the ears of the president, is being explored by businessmen on this presidential tour, given the fact that countries like Germany are enacting laws that enable the medical use of psychoactive cannabis and even that cannabis that does not have the component THC. Both variants contain cannabinoids with important medicinal properties.
The Uruguayan law allows the production of psychoactive cannabis to the two companies selected for it (Symbiosis and ICC) so that the product is sold for recreational purposes in the participating pharmacies. However, the laws of countries such as Germany, France, Canada and some states of the United States enable the medicinal use, by prescription, of the same product either in the form of flowers or processed goods. And for them they authorized the importation of the merchandise.
The consulted entrepreneurs understand that this would be an excellent commercial opportunity for the country. The initiative has the support of the Union of Exporters who understands that if the government gives rise to this commercial possibility would be opening a new export line for the country that will leave millionaire dividends to Uruguay.
One of the businessmen consulted reasoned that with the four tons per year that is thought to be devoted to the domestic market and, considering a value of US $ 10 a gram in Germany, for example, would be reaching US $ 40 million annually. However, entrepreneurs understand that the needs at destination are several times greater and that the production possibilities in Uruguay are "almost infinite".
"Just think of multiplying by 10 these figures: US $ 400 million per year, a figure that would not only generate many currencies, but also a lot of labor and a new flourishing industry," said the businessman.
The fact that in places like Germany the medical use is being enabled - but not the production - generates a situation in which Uruguay would be with the production of a valued input - and able to even be manufactured - that does not have much competition at level global.
In this sense the entrepreneurs understand that it is now imperative to take advantage of the situation and stick first to this topic.
During the days that the business mission that accompanied the government was in Berlin and Hamburg, businessmen have signaled to the president of the Republic to want to advance in this sense and have even made contacts with the commercial representatives of the Uruguayan embassy in Germany so that Begin to probe how the insertion of the product in the country would be.
34 projects were submitted to IRCCA
As of July of last year the IRCCA (Cannabis Regulation and Control Institute) had received 34 projects for medical cannabis and industrial hemp. One of them is an Israeli company that wants to produce in the Uruguayan territory to export, which has permission to sell in the US and European market. The then director of the National Drugs Board, Milton, Romani said that the IRCCA is waiting for the Ministry of Public Health to define which projects will be approved. The Uruguayan doctors are being trained to know the uses and doses of medical cannabis.