Costa Rica
Is Hemp Legal in Costa Rica?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 28, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp is legal in Costa Rica under Law 10113, which created a licensing framework administered by MAG for cultivation, processing, and commercialization of hemp containing no more than 1% THC by dry weight. This threshold is higher than the 0.3% used in the United States and the 0.2-0.3% common in the EU, giving Costa Rican producers a competitive advantage in genetics selection.
MAG began issuing cultivation licenses in 2023 following publication of Executive Decree 43706-MAG-S. By 2025, licensed hectarage had expanded across Guanacaste, Alajuela, and the Central Valley, with hemp positioned as a high-value alternative crop. Permitted uses include fiber, seed for food (hemp hearts, oil, protein), construction materials, textiles, and extraction of cannabinoids for CBD products.
Hemp food products are regulated as foodstuffs by the Ministerio de Salud and require standard food registration. Hemp-derived cosmetics and topicals follow the same sanitary registration process as other cosmetic products.
Key facts ·
Costa Rica
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
1% THC by dry weight
Regulator
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia (MAG)
Key regulation
Law 10113 (2022); Executive Decree 43706-MAG-S
Effective
March 2, 2022
Adult-use cannabis
Legal
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import of hemp seed for cultivation requires authorization from MAG and the Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado. Import of hemp-derived raw materials and finished hemp food products requires sanitary registration. Costa Rica exports hemp biomass, seed, and CBD extracts to North American, European, and Latin American markets.
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