198_ Is Peru the Next Hot Market for US Cannabis Brands?

Is Peru the Next Hot Market for US Cannabis Brands? If you work with hemp, the market is about to open for import/export operations. Peru's medical cannabis framework dates to 2017, when cannabis was legalized for medicinal use, scientific research, and pharmaceutical production. Patient associations gained cultivation rights in 2021, though the market remained limited — by mid-2025, official records showed just 27 cannabis-related marketing authorizations, most for natural products rather than medicines. That's changing. A new law passed in December 2024 established the legal basis for industrial hemp below 1% THC. The draft regulation specifically addresses hemp derivatives in processed foods, beverages, supplements, and additives — with hemp edibles and beverages expected to be permitted as regulated food products. Today, we meet José Escalante, co-founder of Organnical, a telehealth platform, who has been working directly with Peruvian lawmakers to help shape the emerging framework. The Innovating Cannabis podcast is produced and hosted by Pam Chmiel, a freelance writer and editor for the Cannabis Industry Journal. Get in touch with pam@InnovatingCannabisPodcast.com.LinkedIn   Twitter   InstagramPlease like the show to help us reach more listeners🙏🏻  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.