Costa Rica's president abandons plans to legalize cannabis

The President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves has decided to abandon plans to legalize recreational cannabis in Costa Rica, after two years of advocacy and efforts that ultimately led to a legislative impasse.

Initial push for legalization

The campaign to legalize recreational cannabis began in earnest under the Chaves administration. Two years ago, in the progress report marking the first 100 days of his administration, the President Rodrigo Chaves announced its intention to introduce a bill aimed at legalizing recreational cannabis. This bill was officially introduced into the legislative process on October 5, 2022, and has begun to be discussed in the Environment Committee.

Despite its initial momentum, the bill faced strong opposition during the hearings organized by the Environment Committee. Although it managed to garner some support, the majority opinion within the legislative body was opposed to the initiative. The bill is now awaiting a vote in the plenary session, where it risks being shelved indefinitely.

Mr. Chaves, however, passionately advocated for the legalization of cannabis, citing two main reasons: reducing criminal activity and generating additional revenue for the government through taxation. In February 2024, he emphasized the importance of this legislation by stating: «I have proposed a bill to Congress to legalize cannabis. Today, it is illegal. And those who use it, sell it, or transport it are breaking the law; they are criminals.»

Despite his enthusiasm, Mr. Chaves acknowledged that his bill’s chances of success were dwindling. He expressed his frustration with the legislative process, stating: «The Assembly has so much to deal with—crime, and now mining concessions—and they’ve already set this aside. So if they can’t even eat the soup we’re serving them as an appetizer, why should we keep bringing them pork rinds?»

Change in Strategy and Continued Advocacy Efforts

Despite the withdrawal of the original bill, the campaign to legalize cannabis isn't quite finished. Attention is now turning to another legislative proposal, the Bill 24.176, which aims to authorize and regulate the home cultivation of cannabis for personal use. This initiative is being championed by Representative Ariel Robles, who argues that legalizing personal cultivation is essential to protecting public health, human rights, and consumer safety by providing a legal alternative to the illicit drug market.

Pros and Cons

The legislative push to legalize cannabis has sparked a heated debate among lawmakers and the public. The representative Manuel Morales, of the Social Democratic Party of Progress (PPSD), was a staunch supporter of the initiative.

He highlighted the economic benefits, stating: «We have a market worth $120 million a year from cannabis consumption alone, which is now legal [Editor's note: decriminalized] in Costa Rica. »What is illegal is obtaining the product through drug traffickers, which is dangerous for users.”.

Mr. Morales also addressed public health issues, suggesting that proper education about cannabis use could mitigate potential risks. He compared this approach to sex education, advocating for informed and responsible use in order to reduce hospitalizations due to intoxication.

On the other side of the debate, the members of the National Liberation and New Republic have expressed strong opposition. They believe that legalization could lead to an increase in consumption and put additional strain on public health services. Despite these concerns, supporters of legalization, such as Mr. Robles, emphasize the importance of providing legal means to obtain cannabis in order to protect consumers from dangers associated with the illicit market.

General Context and Implications

This legislative effort is part of a broader debate on drug policy in Costa Rica. Historically, the country has been both a producer and a consumer of cannabis. At a press conference held on December 6, Mr. Chaves acknowledged that «Costa Rica has been a net exporter of cannabis for many years, and we are now importing very large quantities of it. This is a serious problem.».

The current ban on the cultivation and sale of cannabis is set forth in Article 58 of the Law on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. This law limits cultivation to personal use, without the intent to sell.

Future Outlook

Although Mr. Chaves has given up his initially aggressive stance on cannabis legalization, the issue remains a controversial and evolving topic in Costa Rican politics. The outcome of the Bill 24.176 will be closely monitored throughout the legislative process. If it is successful, it could mark a significant shift in the country’s approach to cannabis regulation, balancing public health concerns with the need to undermine illicit drug markets.