Authorities have discovered several marijuana plantations in a mountainous region of central Chile, revealing that the country is no longer just a major destination point for cannabis but a producer as well.

The latest marijuana farm bust occurred in mid-March, when some 8,600 plants, valued at almost $60 million, were seized in the province of Choapa, outside the coastal city of Coquimbo, La Tercera reported. Earlier in the month, authorities discovered some 4,000 plants in the town of Cabildo, south of Choapa.

Chileans are increasingly growing their own cannabis for medical purposes as the conservative South American nation begins loosening legal prohibitions on the formerly illegal plant.

In 2015, Chile legalized the use of medical marijuana, following a wave of other Latin American nations that are slowly making the cultivation, distribution, and consumption of cannabis easier.

Earlier in May, pharmacies in the capital city of Santiago began selling cannabis-based medicines, the first time such treatments have been offered by drugstores in Latin America.

Boosters of the plant are making sure Chileans with chronic pain have the know-how to grow marijuana, even as doing so occupies a legal gray area.

“First-mover advantage.” Why Canadian weed producers will dominate the global marijuana market.

In marketing strategy, there’s a term called “first-mover advantage”. It’s when a few key players in a particular industry gain an advantage because they entered into the marketplace first. These companies are able to establish strong brand recognition, shore up the best sources of funding, and build a loyal customer base simply because there aren’t any competitors in the way during their first few years of operation. 

Tilray, a global leader in medical cannabis research and production, today announced that initial shipments of the company’s medical cannabis products have arrived in Chile, where they are now available for authorized patients to access. The products are initially available at select pharmacies in Santiago. This marks the first time a North American cannabis producer has successfully distributed full-spectrum cannabis-based medicines to patients through pharmacies in the Americas.

The company will expand its clinical research to include autism.

Zelda Therapeutics (ASX:ZLD) has expanded its medical cannabis clinical trial program in Chile to include autism, which is expected to commence in the second half of 2017.

Autism is a lifelong development disability characterized by impairments in social communication and interactions.

The global market for autism diagnosis and treatments is expected to grow to US$412.7 million by 2019.

Joint venture company DayaCann is currently harvesting in Chile.

AusCann Group Holdings (ASX:AC8) is in the process of harvesting its first medical cannabis crop located in Chile.

The crop was planted by the DayaCann joint venture, of which AusCann holds 50:50 with Fundacion Daya.

The large open greenhouse grown plants include various strains that have been selected for specific medical usage.

While the U.S. continues to squabble state-by-state over medical and adult use legalization, over the past year cannabis has quietly grown into a truly international industry.

Attitudes in Latin America are shifting away from supporting prohibitionist policies, but they are far from consensus and the policy implications are unclear.

Sentiments in Latin America in favor of outlawing marijuana appear to be undergoing shifts in some countries, according to researchers in Chile and the UK.

A study published the International Journal of Drug Policy found that, in some parts of the region, more than 40% of respondents supported legalizing the drug, while in other, more conservative areas, support remained minimal.

Tilray, a global leader in medical cannabis research and production, today announced that it has received necessary regulatory approvals in Canada and Chile to export medical cannabis for distribution to Chilean patients.

“Today’s announcement marks Tilray’s entry into Latin America and expands our international reach to a fourth continent,” said Brendan Kennedy, Tilray President. “We are proud to be able to offer patients in need access to high quality, pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis products.”