In Bolivia, medical cannabis awaits regulation

While the medical use of cannabis is widespread in South America and already permitted in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay, in In Bolivia, its use is still in its infancy despite high demand.

According to the report d’Bolivian Andean Action, one of the leading local advocacy groups pushing for regulation, Bolivian patients who use cannabis products to relieve their ailments still find themselves in a sort of «gray area» that leaves them vulnerable to criminal prosecution.

From a legal standpoint, Law 913 on Controlled Substances allows for the use of cannabis for medical purposes, although concrete regulations are still lacking. The country is also a signatory to the three international conventions that govern the global drug control framework (1961, 1971, and 1988) and that authorize the medical use of controlled substances.

Furthermore, there are no medical cannabis specialists in Bolivia, so they can neither prescribe nor know what to prescribe.

«There are patients who seek out certain types of oils, often brought in from abroad, particularly from neighboring countries. On the domestic market, cannabis-based ointments, oils, and other products are available in herbal shops or similar markets, although they are not subject to health inspections. There are artisanal or more sophisticated products that fall outside the scope of the law,», explains Bolivian lawyer Jorge Castañares.

Like other professionals, Gloria Rose Achá, coordinator of’Bolivian Andean Action and a drug policy specialist, considers this a health issue; although the numbers aren’t quantified, there are dozens of cases in the country—currently «under the radar»—but for many, it’s a health option. »This isn’t a matter of drug trafficking,« Ms. Achá emphasizes. »It’s a right to health, and it’s not a matter of opinion either, but of scientific knowledge,” she concludes.

«In many countries, such as the United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, authorizations for the use of medical cannabis by patients—along with their respective protocols—already existed before the law was enacted. There may be regulations stemming from state administrative standards. »When a patient becomes visible to society, it helps, in a way, to ensure the viability of the regulations and the legality of its use,” summarizes Ms. Achá.

The regulatory process is still in its early stages in Bolivia. The first step is expected to be taken this Monday with the enrollment of the first patient.