In our Regulatory Snapshot, when we say a country treats Medicinal Cannabis as restricted, it means that products like cannabidiol (CBD) oils are only allowed under formal medicine registration rules. This does not exclude other interpretations, where the same CBD oil may be seen as a herbal medicine, supplement, or even a superfood. In many countries, this remains a “grey area” — a space where entrepreneurs must actively engage and help shape the path forward.
What you'll learn
Table of contents
Costa Rica Introduction
Costa Rica enacted Law 10.113 (2022), legalizing medical/therapeutic cannabis and creating a nationwide regime for industrial hemp. Since then, the government has issued regulations and begun licensing cultivation, processing, and derivative products, especially for hemp (≤1% THC). Recreational cannabis remains illegal, although personal consumption typically does not carry criminal penalties; sale, distribution, and unlicensed cultivation remain offenses.
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Cannabis & Wellness Regulation Overview
Recreational Cannabis (Adult Use)
Status: Not legalized; limited tolerance for personal consumption.
- Personal consumption does not carry criminal penalties under prevailing practice, but there is no statutory gram threshold.
- Sale, trafficking, and unlicensed cultivation remain criminal offenses.
- Periodic efforts to advance adult-use bills or referendums have not produced a national recreational framework as of 2025.
Medical Cannabis
Status: Legal and regulated under Law 10.113 and executive regulations.
- Activities (cultivation, manufacture, distribution, import/export) require licenses/authorizations issued by the Ministry of Health and other competent authorities.
- Traceability, GMP/GDP standards, sanitary permits, and product registration are central.
- Dispensing to patients occurs via authorized channels (e.g., pharmacies/health establishments) per product class and indication.
- Marketing to the public is restricted; scientific/professional communications only.
Hemp Definition & Industrial Use
Status: Licensed industrial hemp with ≤1.0% THC.
- The law and implementing decrees allow hemp cultivation and processing with licenses overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and Health Ministry.
- ≤1.0% THC threshold applies to hemp, enabling a competitive CBD-bearing crop.
- Applications include fiber, foods (seed, oil, protein), cosmetics, and derivatives compliant with sanitary rules.
CBD Products
Status: Allowed within regulated channels; category-specific rules apply.
- CBD may be produced/marketed via licensed medical or hemp pathways.
- Foods/dietary supplements with CBD require prior authorization (Novel/technical evaluation, sanitary registration).
- Topicals/cosmetics with hemp seed oil (no cannabinoids) are straightforward; cannabinoid-containing cosmetics require sanitary assessment/clearance and must avoid therapeutic claims.
- Imports/exports must match Costa Rican and destination-country rules.
Cosmetics & Artisanal Products
Status: Permitted with compliance.
- Hemp seed oil is widely usable in cosmetics and skincare.
- Products containing CBD or other cannabinoids need sanitary registration and must meet safety/labeling standards (ingredient disclosure in Spanish, responsible entity, batch/expiry).
- Therapeutic positioning reclassifies the product as medicinal.
Functional Mushrooms & Adaptogens
Status: Permitted as foods/supplements.
- Reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps, chaga, etc. are sold under general food/supplement law with restricted claims.
- Novel ingredients/extracts may require technical evaluation before approval.
Psilocybin / Psychedelics
Status: Prohibited.
- Psilocybin remains a controlled substance with no decriminalization or medical retail.
- Research may be possible only under special authorizations.
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Operating Guidance (Hemp Vegan)
Wellness-Driven Coffee & Retail
Costa Rica offers a balanced compliance-first entry:
- Choose your space: cafés/wellness hubs focused on coffee, teas, superfoods, functional mushrooms, and hemp seed foods/cosmetics.
- Plug into the ecosystem: partner with licensed hemp producers and health establishments for medical education; prepare dossiers for sanitary registrations.
- Grow with support: SOPs for traceability, labeling, stability testing, and claims vetting.
Clinical Tools & AI
- AI-guided prescribing & safety flows for medical cannabis where authorized, including drug–drug interaction checks and pharmacovigilance prompts.
- Sanitary registration checklists and Spanish-language patient education modules.
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Marketing, Claims & Compliance
Advertising & Claims
- No therapeutic claims unless product is registered as medicinal.
- Educational/structure–function language preferred for wellness lines.
- Ensure age-gating and responsible messaging where applicable.
Packaging & Labeling
- Medical cannabis: pharmaceutical-grade labeling, sanitary permit number, batch/expiry, cannabinoid specs.
- Foods/supplements: ingredient list, allergens, nutrition facts, registration number, importer/responsible entity (ES).
- Cosmetics: INCI list, responsible person, safety file, batch, shelf-life; claims must be cosmetic-only.
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Taxes, Import & Duties
- VAT (IVA): 13% standard.
- Imports/exports of cannabis/hemp require licenses and sanitary permits; medical exports must align with INCB controls.
- Expect lab testing (THC, contaminants) and documentation at customs.
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Risks & Practical Notes
- Recreational: still illegal; focus on licensed medical/hemp channels.
- CBD: viable but permit-heavy; foods/supplements need prior authorization.
- Enforcement: concentrates on claims, registration status, and THC limits.
- Strategy: start with functional mushrooms, hemp seed foods/cosmetics, then scale into licensed CBD/medical once registrations are secured.
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FAQ (Hemp Vegan)
How does Hemp Vegan support operations in Costa Rica?
We design a compliance-first roadmap: licensing for hemp/cannabis, sanitary registrations, SOPs, supplier due diligence, and claims/label review.
Can I sell CBD gummies or beverages?
Only with prior sanitary authorization; otherwise high enforcement risk. Consider topicals or hemp seed foods as faster entries.
Is home growing allowed?
Not for recreational use. Cultivation requires licenses tied to medical/hemp programs.
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Sources & Review Log
_Last reviewed_: 2025-08-23
- Law No. 10.113 (2022) — Medical cannabis & industrial hemp framework. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- Executive & technical regulations (2024–2025) — Implementation under Health Ministry/MAG (incl. Decree Nº 44585; RTCR references). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Hemp ≤1.0% THC — official threshold; licensing context. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Medical access & evolving framework — market/regulatory summaries. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Recreational status — personal consumption not criminally sanctioned; sale/cultivation illegal. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
