Cannabis Reform in Costa Rica Blocked
The Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica said ‘no’ to a proposed referendum on the adult-use of cannabis. The reason cited for this decision was that legalizing recreational cannabis goes against international treaties. Below is a recap of the latest developments regarding cannabis reform and legalization in Costa Rica.
At the end of last month, Costa Rican lawmakers stopped short efforts to initiate a national referendum on marijuana legalization. Chamber representatives ruled that the move would violate international agreements, such as the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, to which Costa Rica, like many other countries in the world (including legal cannabis countries), is signatory. Both treaties explicitly prohibit recreational legalization of marijuana, and restrict its use for medical or scientific purposes only.
Cannabis Referendum Proposal Was Ruled Unconstitutional
The initiative for a recreational cannabis referendum in Costa Rica was started by cannabis activist González Camacho, who engaged in a process to collect needed petition signatures. As per protocol, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal referred the matter to the Constitutional Chamber, which ultimately ruled that the proposal was unconstitutional.
Medical cannabis and industrial hemp are legal in Costa Rica, however, recreational use remains a sensitive topic both among lawmakers and citizens. The Caribbean nation does have a president who is pro-cannabis. “Legalizing marijuana would give consumers safe access while cutting off profits to criminal networks,” stated President Rodrigo Chaves, who in 2022 announced plans for a project to push forward recreational cannabis. Besides reducing criminality, President Chaves has highlighted other benefits of marijuana legalization, such as economic progress and job creation, The Tico Times reported.
Opponents of legal cannabis in Costa Rica believe, however, that legal weed would result in increased consumption and social issues, in particular among younger populations. The recent court ruling emphasized on the need to stay committed to international treaties, and can be seen as an attempt to not spark further debate on legalization at least for the moment.
For now, only the medical use of marijuana remains technically legal in Costa Rica. And while Costa Rica’s law clearly states that recreational use of cannabis is illegal, being caught with a small amount of weed on your person might not necessarily lead to serious repercussions. Using weed in public spaces or selling to another person will result in a problem with local authorities.
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Stephen Andrews
