Puerto Rico
Is Hemp Legal in Puerto Rico?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 28, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp is legal in Puerto Rico under Law 4-2019 (Ley para Reglamentar el Cultivo Industrial del Canamo), enacted January 2019, which aligned the territory with the 2018 federal Farm Bill. Hemp is defined as Cannabis sativa L. with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis. Cultivation, processing, and commerce require licenses from the PR Department of Agriculture, operating under a USDA-approved state plan.
Licensed activities cover grain, fiber, seed, and cannabinoid extraction. Hemp-derived consumer products are sold legally in retail outlets. Delta-8 THC, THCA flower, and other intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids exist in a gray zone: not explicitly banned by PR statute but subject to growing federal scrutiny under the pending 2024-2026 Farm Bill reauthorization debate. PR enforcement has so far mirrored federal posture. Unlicensed cultivation of cannabis over 0.3% THC remains a criminal offense, and civil fines for unlicensed hemp activity can reach $10,000 per violation.
Key facts ·
Puerto Rico
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0.3% delta-9 THC (dry weight)
Regulator
Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture / USDA
Key regulation
Law 4-2019 (Puerto Rico Industrial Hemp Act); 2018 Federal Farm Bill
Effective
January 3, 2019
Adult-use cannabis
Decriminalized
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Hemp moves freely between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland under the Farm Bill - no state may prohibit interstate transport of federally compliant hemp (USDA rule, 7 CFR Part 990). Carriers including USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL ship hemp to/from PR. International imports require USDA permits, FDA notification for ingestibles, and lab COAs proving below 0.3% delta-9 THC. Exports to non-US destinations face recipient-country restrictions.
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