Costa Rica’s law enforcement officers say they will confiscate hemp material shipments between two research locations, turning down a transit license.
According to prosecutors, Costa Rican regulations on marijuana haven’t been reformed; thus, hemp material cannot be transported lawfully.
The public security representatives said that they can’t promise the transit of hemp substances within the country’s jurisdiction since the current legislation doesn’t classify substances based on THC percentage concentration. They added that the evidence of its presence calls for seizure and forensic evaluation.
This comes after Renato Alvarado, Agriculture Minister, sought insight concerning shipment issues from the Assistant Prosecutor for Drug Trafficking and Associated Crimes.
Michael Soto, Public Security Minister, said law enforcement officers are allowed to confiscate hemp crops that the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry is growing for research and development purposes in Guapiles, Limon and Canas, Guanacaste.
INTA (National Institute for Innovation and Technology Transfer) officials have objected citing that the research measure was authorized after Costa Rica signed the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs during 1970.
Scientists began hemp growing tests with twelve strains during late 2020 at two locations. They’re studying the crop’s performance in Costa Rica’s climate and agronomic conditions. This week, INTA announced that it would start reporting the first results of the hemp plants.
Soto said that he doesn’t have any power over the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry or any authority to endorse hemp plantations’ experiments. This comes after he refused to endorse a transit permit as requested by Minister Renato to ship hemp substances between the two research sites, Guapiles and Canas.
This week, Soto visited a Canas laboratory, where the state’s first hemp plant is being grown.
The country’s president admitted that he seconds hemp, however, he opposes medicinal marijuana and home cultivation, citing that the government doesn’t have sufficient resources to enhance public safety and health.
