Legalization of cannabis in Colombia: Exploring the potential impact on organized crime

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug worldwide, with approximately 219 million users in 2021, according to the UNODC. It is also the illicit drug that is being legalized for medicinal or recreational use the fastest. While Colombia has taken steps toward regulation, such as legalizing medical cannabis in 2015, full legalization of recreational cannabis is still under discussion.

This report draws on the experiences of countries such as Uruguay, Canada and the United States, which have already legalized cannabis, to explore possible outcomes for Colombia. It concludes that while legalization could reduce the size of the illicit cannabis market, a gray market is likely to persist, supplying both local and international demand.

A key focus is on how criminal control of cannabis production areas could hinder the transition of growers to a legal market. The report highlights the need for coordinated cannabis regulatory and security policies to protect small-scale and traditional growers and integrate them into the legal market. It also explores the potential for reduced violence, although the report notes that this is unlikely to happen immediately. Criminal groups may resist the establishment of a legal market, leading to short-term increases in violence as they compete for control of remaining illegal markets.

Another important finding is the potential transformation of Colombia’s criminal justice system. Legalization could free up resources, allowing law enforcement to prioritize more serious public safety issues and reduce prosecutions of low-level cannabis users and prison overcrowding.

This report provides crucial insights for policymakers and highlights that while cannabis legalization is not a panacea for crime and violence in Colombia, it is an important step towards more effective drug policy reform and reducing organized crime.