Within the framework of a new edition of Expo Cannabis, the executive director of the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (Ircca), Juan Ignacio Tastás, announced that On December 20, a new variety of cannabis will go on sale in pharmacies: it is Gamma.
This third variety will have a THC level—psychoactive element—less than or equal to 15%. “It’s closer to what consumers were demanding and much closer to the THC levels you can get in clubs,” Tastás said.. In turn, he advanced that about December next year a fourth variety will be released.
Likewise, within the framework of the ExpoCannabis it was announced that The regulator’s Board of Directors enabled production units to start developing their own varieties within the property to increase the existing supply which, until now, was limited to the two varieties that are sold in pharmacies.
Along these lines, the executive director highlighted that Further innovation and development through a plant laboratory is anticipated.
Along the same lines, in conjunction with the Seed Institute (Inase) it is proposed to register a research license that allows the registration of genetic materials found in Uruguay and that differ from those that exist in the region. This allows, then, to reproduce the previously registered genetics. This was stated at a press conference by Sergio Vázquez, representative of the National Seed Institute and stressed that “The market demands the registration of THC genetic materials to be able to commercialize them.”
In turn, the commercialization license for this genetic material, with its corresponding traceability, will soon be available. “With es we meet a historical demand from the sector that wanted to reach stable genetics, of very good quality and that could reach a commercial stage, which is what was currently not available,” concluded Vázquez.
Finally, Tastás remarked: “We are aware that the regulations are very restrictive and that they corset the operation.”
Cannabis clubs and pharmacies
The executive director of Ircca affirmed that he also work with cannabis clubs and pharmacies that sell cannabis has intensifieds, which has made them more and more. In fact, this year is projected as historical record of authorizations in cannabis clubs. In 2020, 27 were enabled, 54 in 2021 and in 2022 there will be about 70, which will mean that by the end of the year there will be 300 cannabis clubs authorized by the IRCCA.
Regarding pharmacies, Tastás maintained that once the sale of cannabis was enabled, 14 registered. As of today, this number has increased and is now close to 40.
