Legal Update: Costa Rica Moves Toward Regulated Access to Medicinal Cannabis
As of June 21, 2025, Costa Rica will officially implement Technical Regulation RTCR 515:2024, marking a significant step toward the legal availability of medicinal cannabis in the country.
Under this new framework, patients with a valid prescription will soon be able to access cannabis-based medicinal products through licensed pharmacies. These products may be prescribed as an adjunct to standard therapies, particularly in cases where conventional, approved treatments have proven ineffective or have caused significant adverse effects. Medicinal cannabis may be recommended to help manage chronic pain and other qualifying conditions, in accordance with the prescribing physician’s professional judgment.
Key provisions include:
- Controlled access: Products will be dispensed only with a prescription, and patients will be permitted to possess up to 150 grams or 30 times their prescribed daily dose, whichever is less.
- Supply chain regulation: Medicinal cannabis products may be imported or locally produced by authorized cultivators and laboratories, subject to compliance with national standards.
- Pharmacy-based distribution: Dispensation will occur exclusively through licensed pharmacies, ensuring oversight and quality control.
While the national traceability system—essential for full regulatory compliance from seed to final product—has a final implementation deadline of October 2026, authorities are required to establish and maintain interim control mechanisms to monitor and enforce compliance throughout the transition period.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide timely updates. Stakeholders interested in entering Costa Rica’s emerging medicinal cannabis market should begin evaluating regulatory, licensing, and operational requirements without delay. Please contact us should you need further guidance on regulatory compliance or business structuring under the new regime.
