Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica now has its first medicinal cannabis manufacturing laboratory, marking a significant shift for the sector by enabling the transition from exporting raw materials to producing finished medications.
This facility, located in El Guarco, Cartago, and developed by Vantage Point Global, aims to supply the domestic market and export destinations such as Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The laboratory was inaugurated in a context where the local medicinal cannabis industry still faces regulatory and political challenges.
According to the company, the project could generate up to 420 jobs once it reaches full development. Currently, the operation already has 85 active employees in one of the production areas, while the expansion of new lines within the farm and laboratories is planned, as explained by General Manager Jorge Calderón in statements reported by El Observador.
The plant is intended for the manufacture of concentrates, oils, syrups, and pills made from cannabis sativa. Calderón noted that, with this infrastructure, the company can cultivate under the highest quality standards, process the product, and offer finished medications for both local consumption and export.
Regulatory Obstacles for the Medicinal Cannabis Industry in Costa Rica
Calderón indicated that the main challenge facing the operation is not technical, but rather stems from the current regulatory framework. According to his analysis, Law No. 10,113, which regulates cannabis for medicinal and therapeutic use and hemp for food and industrial use, has loopholes that hinder the registration of pharmaceutical products in the country.
This situation limits the marketing of medications in Costa Rica, although it does allow exports to international markets.
Legislator and former Vice-president Stephan Brunner shared this view while attending the laboratory’s inauguration. Brunner explained that the main difficulties for the project have been related to permits and legal aspects, not to agricultural or pharmaceutical processes. He emphasized the company’s continued presence in the country, considering the slow implementation of the law passed four years ago.
The company believes that the opening of the laboratory is a first step for Costa Rica to move toward the national production of finished cannabis-based medicines, although it acknowledges that the evolution of the regulatory framework will be crucial for the sector’s definitive growth.
First Laboratory and Export: Immediate and Future Impact
The first official export of medicinal cannabis was on March 13. The shipment, destined for Europe, was carried out in accordance with Costa Rican legislation for medicinal and therapeutic cannabis and met the requirements established by the European Union.
This achievement is considered an opportunity for Costa Rica to access new markets and be valued for the quality and certifications of its medicinal cannabis production.
Jorge Calderón emphasized that this first shipment highlights the country’s technical capacity to adapt to the demands of new agricultural and medical activities. He noted that this is the first time a Costa Rican agricultural product has also been classified as a medical raw material and must comply with international standards for export.
The new plant aims to cover the entire production process, from cultivation to manufacturing and distribution of finished medications. The sector’s progress could contribute to the diversification of the national economy in the pharmaceutical and agricultural fields, while regulatory developments are expected to accompany the growth of the medicinal cannabis industry in the country.