Cannabis laws in Puerto Rico

Medical: Yes
Recreational: No
Reciprocity: Yes

Is marijuana legal in Puerto Rico?

Recreational cannabis is not legal in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico but the island legalized medical cannabis in 2015.

Possible penalties

Only registered medical patients are allowed to possess cannabis in Puerto Rico. Without a medical card, possession of any amount is considered a felony and carries at least three years in jail. First offenders may be sentenced to a three-year probation instead of jail time, but this is not guaranteed. In 2015, the Governor of PR signed an executive order that advised judges not to issue jail sentences to people caught with six grams of cannabis or less.

Medical marijuana in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico legalized medical cannabis in 2015 and the program was refined and expanded in 2017 and 2018. Patients with qualifying conditions can access a 30-day supply of the plant, which includes 1 oz of flower or 8g of concentrates or edibles. Available products include concentrates, oil, edibles, topical products, and capsules. Smokable products are not allowed, but patients can vape flower.

Qualifying conditions include:

Alzheimer’s disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Anorexia
Anxiety
Cancer or other conditions that cause severe nausea
Crohn’s disease
Epilepsy
Fibromyalgia
Hepatitis C
HIV/AIDS or other conditions that cause cachexia
Migraines
Multiple Sclerosis or other conditions that cause severe spasms
Parkinson’s disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Spinal cord injury or other conditions that cause severe pain

To become a medical patient, you must get a recommendation from a doctor, register with the government-run website, and pay $25. Since cannabis is not recreationally legal, being registered as a medical patient means you cannot receive criminal charges for possession. Puerto Rico also recognizes medical cannabis registrations from other states in the US.

CBD regulations

CBD is legal in Puerto Rico, as long as it is derived from industrial hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC. You can find CBD for sale online and in hemp stores throughout the islands.

Can you grow your own weed?

No, it is not legal to grow cannabis plants in Puerto Rico, even for medical patients.

Visiting Puerto Rico – can you buy or bring marijuana products?

While cannabis is recreationally illegal, medical patients from other states can access medication while in Puerto Rico. If you’re not a medical patient, you may still be able to find cannabis flower or product via the illicit market. Exercise caution with these products, as they are untested and unregulated.

Don’t attempt to enter Puerto Rico with cannabis products, as this can be considered trafficking.

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