No. Recreational marijuana (weed) is not legal in Costa Rica. Under Law 8204, the country’s drug law, selling, supplying, transporting, storing or growing cannabis without legal authorization carries 8 to 15 years in prison. Using it is handled differently: the law steers people found using drugs in public toward voluntary, free treatment rather than prison. The only legal cannabis is medical cannabis and industrial hemp under the licensed framework of Law 10113 (2022).
Is weed legal in Costa Rica?
Not for recreational use. Article 58 of Law 8204 punishes anyone who, without legal authorization, distributes, sells, supplies, prepares, transports, stores or grows the drugs it covers, or grows the plants they come from, with 8 to 15 years in prison. The same penalty applies to possessing them for any of those purposes, and to possessing or selling seeds that can germinate.
Use itself is treated as a health matter. Article 79 says voluntary, free treatment, inpatient or outpatient, is to be promoted for people who use unauthorized drugs on public roads or in public places. That is not legalization: buying from a dealer means dealing with someone committing a serious crime, and possession that looks like supply is treated as supply.
- Recreational use: not legal; there are no shops and no licences.
- Medical cannabis: legal only through licensed producers and medicinal products registered under Law 10113.
- Hemp and CBD: legal when the product meets its technical regulation and registration; see our guide to CBD in Costa Rica.
- Growing at home: no law authorizes it (explained below).
Why it matters if you plan to live here
Every residency application includes a police record, so a drug conviction, here or abroad, can complicate your plans. If you have a question about a past conviction, read our guide on moving to Costa Rica with a criminal record.
Medical cannabis and hemp have a licensed framework
Law 10113, dated March 2, 2022, established the framework for medicinal and therapeutic cannabis and for hemp for food and industrial uses. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) publishes the cultivation authorization and licensing procedures, and the Ministry of Health regulates the products within its remit. A business planning cultivation, processing or sale needs the authorization for that activity; a product offered online or in a shop is not, by itself, evidence that it complies.
Medical cannabis products are registered with the Health Ministry
The Health Ministry runs a registration process for cannabis-based medicinal products under Decree 44917-S, RTCR 515:2024, handled through its Regístrelo system. The requirements cover product specifications, manufacturing documentation, analytical methods and labeling. The rules do not mean every advertised medicine is registered or available, so ask a doctor and a pharmacist about the specific product.
Can you grow cannabis at home in Costa Rica?
No law authorizes home growing, and article 58 lists growing the plants without authorization among the offences. In its 28 April 2025 opinion PGR-OJ-070-2025 on a proposed bill, the Procuraduría General de la República discusses the absence of criminal punishment for possession and cultivation exclusively for personal consumption, while also examining the restrictions in the wider legal framework. That opinion is not binding, and the bill’s figure of 20 flowering plants is not law. There is no permit and no legal number of plants.
Personal use and supply are legally distinct, and which one applies depends on the facts of each case. If you face a question about possession or cultivation, get advice from a Costa Rican lawyer before relying on anything you read online.
CBD and hemp products have their own rules
Decree 44844, RTCR 511:2023, covers hemp derivatives in foods, supplements, cosmetics and other health-regulated products, with registration, labeling, quality and cannabinoid-limit provisions. It defines hemp as plants with total THC below 1% by dry weight, but that definition is not a blanket allowance for finished products: each product category has its own conditions. Our CBD guide explains them.
What to check before buying or importing a product
- Identify whether it is a medicine, food, supplement, cosmetic or another regulated product.
- Check its labeling and applicable sanitary registration rather than relying only on the word “CBD.”
- Confirm the current import requirements before ordering internationally or carrying a product across a border.
- Discuss intended medicinal use with a qualified healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is marijuana legal in Costa Rica in 2026?
No, not for recreational use. Selling, transporting, storing and growing it without authorization are crimes under Law 8204, with 8 to 15 years in prison. Only licensed medical cannabis and hemp products under Law 10113 are legal.
Can tourists smoke weed in Costa Rica?
Not legally. Visitors are under the same drug law as everyone else. Using it in public can lead to a referral for treatment, and buying it means dealing with someone committing a crime that carries 8 to 15 years.
Is CBD legal in Costa Rica?
Yes, when the product meets the technical regulation for its category and carries the required registration. See our CBD guide.
Is medical marijuana legal in Costa Rica?
Yes, through licensed producers and medicinal products registered with the Ministry of Health under Law 10113 and RTCR 515:2024.