Yes, CBD is legal in Costa Rica when the product meets the technical regulation for its category and carries the required registration. Hemp-derived foods, supplements and cosmetics follow RTCR 511:2023, and cannabis-based medicines are registered with the Ministry of Health under RTCR 515:2024. A “CBD” label alone does not make a product legal, and a CBD cosmetic, a hemp food and a cannabis medicine do not share one THC limit or registration route. Recreational marijuana is a different matter: it is illegal, as our guide to cannabis laws in Costa Rica explains.
CBD is not the same as marijuana
CBD products made from hemp are regulated consumer or medicinal products. Marijuana for recreational use is not legal: selling, transporting or growing it without authorization carries 8 to 15 years in prison under Law 8204. Our cannabis law guide covers what the drug law says, home growing and what it means for a residency application. This page covers CBD and hemp products.
Which rules apply to CBD products?
Law 10113 provides the medicinal-cannabis and hemp framework. For hemp-derived consumer products, Decree 44844 establishes RTCR 511:2023. For cannabis-based medicines, Decree 44917-S establishes RTCR 515:2024. The Ministry of Health publishes the registration procedures, while MAG handles agricultural authorizations within its remit.
Why “under 1% THC” is not enough
RTCR 511 defines hemp as having total THC below 1% by dry weight. That is not a blanket permission for every finished product. Its requirements differ for foods, supplements, cosmetics and other categories.
For example, the regulation sets a THC limit of 10 mg/kg for hemp-seed oil and 0.2 mg/kg for foods made from parts other than seeds. CBD-extract cosmetics have a separate total-THC ceiling of 0.2%; other permitted cannabis ingredients in cosmetics are addressed differently. These examples are not a complete compliance checklist.
A seller’s “CBD” label or claim of low THC cannot replace the applicable registration, quality and labeling requirements. Foods and supplements cannot simply be marketed with therapeutic claims.
Cannabis-based medicines follow a separate route
RTCR 515:2024 covers cannabis-based medicinal products. It includes packaged dried flowers, defined dosage forms and pharmacy-compounded preparations, with different requirements. Compounded preparations have a specific exemption from product registration; this does not exempt the pharmacy from its other obligations.
Dispensing medicinal products is a pharmacist’s responsibility against a prescription from an authorized professional. The regulation addresses product information, quality controls and appropriate handling. Do not assume a foreign prescription or a product sold abroad automatically meets Costa Rican requirements.
The Ministry of Health’s current registration page directs applicants to Regístrelo and lists required manufacturing, analysis and labeling documents. It also links a 2026 technical circular. A registration framework being available does not mean every advertised brand has been approved.
Questions to ask before buying
- What is the product’s regulatory category?
- Does its registration or applicable authorization match its name, manufacturer and intended use?
- Are the cannabinoid contents, lot and expiry information available?
- For medicinal use, has a qualified clinician assessed whether it is appropriate, including possible interactions with other medicines?
Ask the pharmacist or supplier for verifiable product information. If it cannot be provided, confirm the position with the Health Ministry before relying on advertising.
Bringing CBD into Costa Rica
Before travel or an international order, obtain guidance for the exact product, ingredients, amount and import route. Personal luggage, courier shipments and commercial imports should not be assumed to have identical requirements. Keep the original packaging and relevant documentation, but do not treat those documents alone as permission to import.
Do not assume customs will overlook small quantities, or that buying a product here means you can carry it across a border.
CBD rules do not settle home-cultivation questions
The PGR’s April 2025 legal opinion distinguishes exclusively personal consumption and cultivation from commercial activity. It is a non-binding opinion on a bill, not an enacted allowance of a particular number of plants. See our cannabis plants and legal distinctions guide for that separate issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is marijuana legal in Costa Rica in 2026?
Not for recreational use. Selling, transporting and growing it without authorization are crimes under Law 8204. Only licensed medical cannabis and hemp products under Law 10113 are legal. Read our cannabis law guide for the details.
Can you grow cannabis plants at home in Costa Rica?
No law currently authorizes it. Article 58 of Law 8204 covers growing the plants without legal authorization. See our cannabis plants guide for the background.
Is CBD legal in Costa Rica?
CBD products are legal when they meet the technical regulation for their category and carry the required registration. A “CBD” label on its own does not make a product compliant.
Can I bring CBD oil into Costa Rica?
Get guidance for the exact product before you travel. Personal luggage, courier and commercial imports are treated differently, and packaging alone is not permission to import.
Official sources
Confirm requirements for your specific product with the competent authority.
- RTCR 511:2023: hemp derivatives and consumer-product requirements
- RTCR 515:2024: cannabis-based medicinal products
- Ministry of Health: medicinal-product registration
- MAG: agricultural authorizations and licences
- PGR-OJ-070-2025: opinion on personal cultivation
Thinking of moving to Costa Rica?
Get a free residency assessment. Tell Johanna, our immigration expert, about your situation, and she will tell you which residency fits you and what you need.
WhatsApp Johanna: +506 8373 2085Free assessment
Or email info@crie.cr