Is CBD Legal In Puerto Rico?

 CBD products have been a hot topic in the last few years. Their benefits have been acclaimed by numerous people from different parts of the world. Nonetheless, some various people and countries are against the production, the commercializing, and the usage of such products. 

Because of that, it is very important to know how the law works for every country when it comes to CBD products. In this article, you will have a look at CBD in Puerto Rico, the culture around it, and you will also find out whether or not this product is legal in this country.

CBD Products and Their Benefits

There has been a significant increase in the use of CBD products for medical reasons in the past few years. CBD is a type of cannabinoid that is non-toxic and can be found in cannabis, second to THC. For CBD to be considered a medicinal product, it must come from a plant that contains more than 0,3% THC, rather than from an industrial hemp plant. 

CBD products are known to have anti-inflammatory effects, they are used to help with anxiety and stress, and even as an analgesics. The most common CBD product is the CBD oil, but you can also find products such as CBD scented candles or CBD infused face creams. 

Medical Marijuana in Puerto Rico

After long debates, medical marijuana was legalized in Puerto Rico in May 2015. Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, HIV/AIDS, Migraines, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, and other medical conditions where regular medicine is not effective can have medical marijuana prescribed to them by specialized doctors. 

The first dispensaries where people could buy it opened at the end of 2016 and allowed for tourists from states where medical marijuana was legal to buy it as well. 

At the same time, the personal cultivation of marijuana, be it for medical or for recreational reasons, remained strictly prohibited. Furthermore, failure to do so could result in a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a 5,000$ fine. The same applies for cultivation to commercialize it where the penalties can go even higher.

CBD in Puerto Rico

Most of the CBD available for the consumption at a larger scale comes from hemp plants. This means that the THC levels are under 0,3%. Nonetheless, for a long time, both marijuana and hemp were considered to be cannabis plants with an increasing potential for abuse. It was in 2018 when the US passed the Farm Bill that legalized the cultivation of hemp plants.

This allowed for THC free CBD products to be made and sold without being accompanied by proof of a medical condition. Even so, some standards of cultivation had to be met by the producers. But since the term cannabis has been used differently in Puerto Rico to define just medical marijuana and its derived products, this allowed for CBD to be sold since 2015.

Finally, while the benefits of using medical marijuana and CBD have been in the spotlight for the last few years, it is important to always make sure whether or not they are legal in a certain country, state, or territory.