In hard times Costa Rica demonstrates it resilience and ingenuity

The crisis caused by the coronavirus has hit Costa Rica’s fragile economy really hard, especially the tourism sector. In response the government has come up with an ambitious plan to raise hemp and medical marijuana to try and heal the country’s economic woes. Other counties that have invested in the hemp industry have profited considerably. The five largest producers in the world are: China, United States, Canada, France, Chile and, believe it or not, North Korea. The production of medical marijuana is legal in 21 countries.

Although this proposed plan is still in its preliminary stages the country’s president is trying to move forward with its implementation in an effort to reactivate the economy and generate much needed revenue.

Hemp is the plant and marijuana is a drug derived from it. The latter can only be obtained from the female hemp plant.This plant has different varieties and strains that are used for a multitude of purposes. Hemp’s fiber, seeds and stems have been used for thousands of years to make a whole gamut of products such as rope, textiles, personal care product, clothing, shoes, food, paper, different types of oil and biocombustibles (fuel for combustion engines).

In addition to the support of Costa Rica’s president, congresswoman (diputada in Spanish) Zoila Rosa Volio has been a staunch proponent of the industrial use of hemp and medical marijuana. The latter has been used to effectively treat certain forms of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy (quimioterapia in Spanish), loss of appetite and weight associated with HIV, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, post traumatic stress, glaucoma, irritable bowel syndrome and more.

Moreover, if successful this new industry will create jobs and possibly of attracting foreign investment.

However, some fear that the legalization of growing hemp and medical marijuana may give birth to a clandestine illegal market. Currently marijuana is not legal in Costa Rica but possessing small quantities for personal use is not punishable. Technically growing marijuana is also against the law, but can be done for personal use only. Marijuana is second most confiscated drug after cocaine here.