Colombia has long been a major producer and exporter of cannabis, reaching its peak during the Bonanza Marimbera of the 1970s and ’80s. Over the years, both public perception and legislation have shifted significantly.

Since 1986, Colombians have been allowed to cultivate up to 20 cannabis plants at home. Personal use was decriminalized in 1994, and in 2016, Congress approved medical cannabis. Yet, recreational sales remain illegal, keeping much of the market underground.

In the past decade, a growing movement of activists, collectives, and events has promoted responsible consumption, public education on the plant’s therapeutic benefits, and the right to self-cultivation. Meanwhile, medical cannabis has proven transformative for many patients.

Despite these advancements, illegal cannabis crops continue to fuel conflict, particularly in northern Cauca, the country’s most heavily cultivated illicit cannabis region. Here, armed groups—including guerrillas—maintain control, making it one of the most volatile areas in Colombia’s drug trade.

‘Cannábicos’ is a visual project that explores Colombia’s evolving cannabis landscape, spotlighting the initiatives working to challenge decades of stigma and redefine the plant’s role in society.