Costa Rican Pharmacies Set To Sell Cannabis In 2025: What To Expect

By Lucía Tedesco via El Planteo

The sale of cannabis products in Costa Rican pharmacies is set to launch in January 2025, ushering in a new era of accessibility to medicinal cannabis for the general public.

Green Mountain Medical, a Costa Rican pharmaceutical company, will supply pharmacies with various cannabis products, including pure flower, waxes, gummies, extracts, cookies and oils. CEO Thomas McCullen told Teletica, "The range of products that will be available is quite broad." This initiative is designed to provide natural, less invasive treatment options, especially for those with chronic conditions or pain management needs.

The rollout of these products also signifies a shift in how Costa Rica's healthcare system approaches cannabis-based treatments.

Training And Awareness For Cannabis Integration In Costa Rica

Before distribution begins, Costa Rican doctors will participate in training sessions on the uses and benefits of cannabis-derived products. Notably, Dr. Dustin Sulak, an expert in therapeutic cannabis from the United States, has visited Costa Rica to share his expertise on the safe and effective use of these products.

On October 18, 2024, Costa Rica implemented the regulations for Law Nr. 10113, which governs medicinal cannabis and hemp for therapeutic, food and industrial uses. This measure addresses delays and challenges in the law’s implementation that have impacted the sector, according to La República.

Just last September, the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of a protection appeal against the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, demanding prompt regulation due to delays. Medicinal cannabis products have now been reclassified, distinguishing between “dry products” (flowers and inflorescences) and “dose-specific products” (those with set concentrations of CBD or THC). This reclassification allows these products to be sold as therapeutic items without the restrictions associated with prescription drugs.

Additionally, authorized pharmacies must obtain manufacturing licenses to prepare custom cannabis formulations. These formulations will require medical prescriptions that specify the THC concentration.

While several steps remain, the new regulation brings Costa Rica closer to fully regulated medicinal cannabis, creating opportunities for the industry and alternative treatments for patients. As the regulation states, cannabis for medicinal and therapeutic use must meet specific standards for quality, control and traceability.

The text also specifies that "the Ministry of Health, within its competencies, must assume control and regulation of activities related to production, industrialization and the commercialization of health-related products and psychoactive cannabis solely for medicinal and therapeutic purposes."

This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.