Cannabis oil now available in Paraguay

As of today, cannabis oil is legally available in Paraguay. This oil, imported from the United States in mid-June, is currently available at only one pharmacy. The product will be available exclusively to patients who have registered and received a prescription from a doctor.

The oil will be sold at the Vicente Scavone Pharmacy in Asunción (the capital). José López Vigo, the pharmacy’s product manager, explains: «This is a controlled substance for which a prescription in quadruplicate must be presented.».

Neurologists who have registered with the country's National Health Surveillance Office will also receive the product, which will be provided to them by the Ministry of Public Health.

What is the situation regarding cannabis in Paraguay?

Paraguay is the the world's second-largest cannabis producer, after Mexico. It is a very poor country, and due to severe economic hardship, cannabis is abundant there.

However, its use and production are illegal, even though possession of up to 10 grams has been decriminalized since 1988. The country is the main source of cannabis for neighboring countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. Brazil is one of the world’s largest cannabis markets, even though the country’s laws are strict.

Paraguay has enacted a drug law that regulates the use of dangerous drugs—both natural and synthetic—including cannabis.

Cannabis plantations first appeared in the 1960s in two regions bordering the Brazil. The surge in production is partly due to the legacy of Alfredo Stroessner of Paraguay, who served as the country’s autocratic president from 1954 to 1989.

SENAD, the country's police force, estimates that Paraguay produces about 10,000 metric tons of cannabis per year. The rich, fertile soil, combined with the hot and humid climate, creates ideal conditions for growing cannabis there. 

Mehdi Bautier