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Published on Friday, January 14,
2022
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The deputies of Congress, on the second and final round of votes, with 29 votes for and 10 against, approved bill No.21,388 "Law for the production of cannabis and hemp for medicinal purposes in Costa Rica." Congress established that hemp will be used only for industrial and food purposes. Cannabis will be used for medicinal purposes only. Therefore, the use of cannabis components for recreational use will continue to be illegal. According to the deputy Zoila Volio-Pacheco, who introduced the bill, the production of hemp will be freer, while cannabis will be more regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Health. The deputies who voted in favor said that the production of hemp will help to create jobs and boost economic reactivation. The new law will regulate and allow the access and use of cannabis and its derivatives for medicinal and therapeutic use, in order to guarantee the fundamental right to health of the entire population. In addition, authorize the production and commercialization of hemp for industrial and food use. Companies producing marijuana for industrial, medical or therapeutic purposes can operate within industrial zones, which would allow them to receive the incentives, benefits and conditions that these business zones offer. Special licensing will not be required for all companies authorized for the cultivation, production, industrialization, commercialization of hemp (known as non-psychoactive cannabis) and its products for food and industrial purposes. Companies must comply with the current licenses and permits required for agricultural or agroindustrial products. The production of psychoactive cannabis for medical and therapeutic purposes was also authorized in the law, including the sowing, cultivation, harvest, storage and transport. The production and importation of seeds of psychoactive cannabis varieties were also approved for sale as raw material to Social Security or for the industrialization, manufacture and marketing of products for medical or therapeutic use in the country. The export of industrial or medicinal marijuana products was also allowed. The elaboration or industrialization, storage and commercialization of medicines, cosmetics, essential oils and other products for medical or therapeutic use is allowed. In addition, the law approved that licenses for the cultivation and industrialization of cannabis for medical or therapeutic purposes be granted for a period of six years and renewed for equal periods. The condition for cancellation of any cannabis license, based on this new law, is due upon the event of recurrence of serious infractions due to non-payment of taxes or that unauthorized varieties of the plant are cultivated. Tracking “legal” users is similar to other countries that have rolled out legalization laws by authorizing a card issued by Social Security that will allow the use of medical marijuana. Growing marijuana for domestic use in their homes is also a perk of the proposed law. Companies producing or marketing marijuana products must pay a 1% special tax on profits. In May 2020, President Carlos Alvarado announced that he promotes the cultivation of cannabis-hemp, as part of the action plan for the economic reactivation of the post-covid-19 pandemic. "We will promote the cultivation of cannabis-hemp to reactivate the productive sector, with all the guarantees and securities," he said. Some countries like Uruguay and Mexico, have legalized marijuana consumption for recreational purposes. Countries like Canada, the United States, Chile, Argentina among many others have approved medical marijuana. The next step is a submit the law for its corresponding signature by President Carlos Alvarado. ----------------- What is your take on the approval of the use of medicinal marijuana in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com   
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