Costa Rican pharmacies prepare to sell cannabis in 2025

On October 18, the implementing regulations for Law No. 10113, titled «Law on Cannabis for Medical and Therapeutic Use and on Hemp for Food and Industrial Use,» came into effect in Costa Rica through Executive Decree No. 44695-MP-MAG-S. These new regulations address the sector’s requests, as it had encountered numerous obstacles in implementing the regulations.

This Significant legislation is a response both legal requirements and industry demands, with the aim of removing barriers and establishing a more functional framework for the use of medical cannabis and industrial hemp.

Changes to product classification and accessibility

Under previous policies, the proceeds from medical marijuana in Costa Rica were classified strictly as drugs, which created regulatory issues with international standards and hindered market growth.

Today, regulations have introduced a more flexible classification system, dividing products into two main categories: «dry products,» which include cannabis flowers and inflorescences, and «dose-based products,» which encompass pre-packaged forms containing specified concentrations of CBD or THC.

This new classification will make it easier to market cannabis products as therapeutic products rather than strictly medical ones, a change that aligns with global practices in the treatment of chronic diseases and expands patients’ access to a variety of therapeutic options.

According to La República, This reclassification will not only ease restrictions but also make it easier for consumers to access these products, as pharmacies will soon begin offering a variety of cannabis-based products, including flowers, extracts, oils, and edibles.

Thomas McCullen, CEO of Green Mountain Medical, one of the leading suppliers, notes that «the range of available products will be very broad,» offering natural and non-invasive alternatives for managing chronic pain and relieving symptoms.

New requirements for pharmacies and medical prescriptions

The updated regulations require that the pharmacies authorized to sell cannabis-based products hold a manufacturing license.

This license allows them to create customized cannabis formulations in non-sterile pharmaceutical forms, which adds a new level of oversight and quality control.

These preparations must be subject to a medical prescription, detailing the specific concentrations of THC in order to ensure an accurate dosage tailored to the patient's needs.

To further support the sector, the government plans to launch a nationwide training initiative for Costa Rican doctors. The American expert Dr. Dustin Sulak will lead workshops focused on the safe and effective use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, providing healthcare professionals with in-depth knowledge of cannabis-based treatments.

Toward full implementation

Despite these developments, the Constitutional Chamber has recently emphasized the additional measures needed to ensure the sector is fully operational. The House demanded a regulatory framework within six months of the law’s enactment, a directive that required intervention due to delays by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.

To address these shortcomings, the regulation now sets deadlines: within the next two years, a traceability system A comprehensive system must be put in place to track cannabis from the procurement of seeds through to the marketing of the final product. This traceability will also encompass waste management, an area of growing importance for the environment.

Additional administrative and technical guidelines will be established by mid-2025, with a focus on the’product registration and quality control.