Peru opens the door to CBD in pharmacies

Peru will market CBD products in pharmacies «for various indications prescribed by a physician», opening the door to trade in hemp-derived medicines.

Two products are registered as «natural health products derived from cannabis» in Peru. The first is Epifractan, manufactured in Uruguay by Ramm Pharma and containing 5% of CBD for -0.2% THC and will be distributed by the Peruvian company CannFarm. The second is GW Pharmaceuticals' Sativex, prescribed for multiple sclerosis and containing a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD.

The Peru legalized medical cannabis in 2017 and has one of the most advanced cannabis regulations in Latin America.

Companies with registered products must obtain the necessary import permits to receive their products and distribute them to pharmacies in the country.

«After obtaining the import permit, we plan to receive the first shipment from Uruguay and start supplying Peruvian patients in the next few weeks,» a declared Andres Vazquez Vargas, President of CannFarm.

Epifractan has been sold in Uruguayan pharmacies on prescription since 2018, and also distributed in other countries in the region, such as Brazil and Argentina, as part of compassionate-use cannabis programs.» Ramm Pharma thus ships on a case-by-case basis to patients who have a nominative authorization.

As of July 10, the Peruvian health authority's public database showed that 17 registrations for cannabis-based medicines had been submitted by 6 companies and were awaiting approval.