Costa Rica legalizes production of medicinal cannabis and hemp

The initiative, promoted by independent legislator Zoila Rosa Volio, received the affirmative vote of 33 legislators, while 13 voted against it, after extensive discussion and the opposition of several legislators, mainly from the Restauración Nacional, Nueva República, Integración Nacional (PIN), and independent Shirley Díaz.

The plan focuses on authorizing the production of cannabis plants, both those with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, for medicinal and therapeutic use, and those with low THC, such as hemp, for multiple industrial uses.

The bill was on the agenda of the Legislative Assembly since May 2019 and was ruled in the Environment Commission in November 2020. The idea of ​​the legislators is to generate economic reactivation by opening a new productive activity.

For the production of both plants and their derivatives, producers will have to register with the State and provide extensive information to the authorities about their activities. The Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) will be in charge of regulating the hemp market and the Ministry of Health of cannabis for medicinal and therapeutic use.

Health, Agriculture and the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs (ICD) will have periodic inspection and control powers over producers and developers of cannabis and hemp derivatives. [Read more at Q Costa Rica]