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LET US ALL BUILD A SOLID INDUSTRY! For decades, Mexico has faced an alienated and imposed war, which increasingly moved Cannabis from the transparency to the underground within a prohibitionist strategy that only created a lair for the worst leftovers of society: violence and intolerance. Our social subconscious is always dwelling around the myths of drug dealing and narcos. Ideas arisen from poor educational programs and dogmas crashed against a crude reality that cannot be paid with blood anymore. It appears that necessity and congruence are prevailing on stigmas and dogmas. With the potential legalization of Cannabis for adults, we face a historical opportunity to change rooted paradigms, developing a new industry resulting in welfare and income along with adequate educational and innovation programs. The timing could not have been better, with the Mexican economy so desperate for results. With the decree of Law for the control of Cannabis and its derivatives, a range of possibilities opens before us for a new industry that, according to estimations, could reach a market of about five billion pesos by 2025. Although the expectancy is huge, contrary to expectations, the incorporation to this segment is being slow. Despite the recent regulation for the medical use of Cannabis, only a handful of companies have taken action to enter the market. It is true that the rules are not yet clear and that there is a long road towards the standardization and legislation of Cannabis, however since the structure has not been built yet, then, it is the perfect time to enter into action. We are before a potential opportunity to design a new industry from
the foundations, built upon socially responsible models addressing not only an entrepreneurial vision but a socially sustainable development. The objective is to integrate proven business models into a completely new industry. For example, we have this accelerator, a Fintech fully standardized model that five years ago impacted and transformed the financial environment. This model can be replicated in the new Cannabis industry, so needed for actions and resolutions. Furthermore, the new legislation creates a new and underrated business arm: industrial hemp. An agriculture project, designed with sustainable processes within a socially responsible economy would result in sustainable raw materials for sectors like fabrics, bioenergy, pharmaceutical, construction, and bioplastics. One hectare of hemp can yield up to three times more fiber than one hectare of cotton while requiring only a quarter of the water used in the latter. With potentially high biomass and its suitability to adapt to current crop rotations, hemp could not just complement but overcome other current energetic crops that require high levels of water for its cultivation.
Israel Madrid New Business Management Commission. Israel is an Industrial Engineer, a specialist in the creation of new businesses with more than 10 years of experience in the operation and development of productive models, franchises, start-up programs, business incubation, and strategic planning for SMEs. He currently develops several commercial and communication initiatives for the Cannabis business sector.
From the CMCC we encourage all entrepreneurs to enter the business now, this is a perfect time; at the Board, we account for the human and technical tools to guide them through this road, blurry though. Still, we know that it will be a success for those who decide to take the risk. In some years, we will see those who took that risk turned into well-established companies.
THE EXPERT’S OPINION |
