Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about our mission, founders, and goals in advancing medical cannabis in Costa Rica.
Disclaimer: Please note that this information is for educational purposes, adapted from our course curriculum, and is not legal advice. You are advised to consult a lawyer or doctor for personal guidance or questions.
MEDEC-CR is Costa Rica’s first medical cannabis association dedicated to training healthcare professionals. It is the oldest, largest, and leading association of certified cannabis physicians in Costa Rica.
MEDEC-CR stands for Médicos Educando Sobre el Endocannabinoidoma y Cannabis en Costa Rica in full, is the premier medical cannabis association. It was established as the authoritative standard to address clinical uncertainty and legal risk for physicians following the legalization of medicinal cannabis in Costa Rica.
MEDEC-CR was co-founded by Dr. Abraham Benavides, MD (CEO and Lead Cannabis Research Writer), and Dr. Hanzel Larios, MD (Chief Medical Officer), along with Dr. Meghan Benavides, EdD (Chief Operating Officer).
Dr. Abraham Benavides created MEDEC-CR at the request of Dan O’Bryan, COO of Vida Afortunada, Farmacia Azul, and government advisor, to educate and certify prescribers in the country.
MEDEC-CR also collaborates with Cura Vida Cannabis Clinics (CVCC) to offer telemedicine opportunities for patients and providers. Together, we are leveraging our networks to establish a national standard for cannabis telehealth and physician training.
To provide evidence-based training, certification, and support for all medical cannabis providers in Costa Rica.
The association is dedicated to advancing cannabis medicine through:
- Evidence-Based Training and Certification: We provide a complete, 300-page, 15–20 hour, evidence-based training course and instruction manual, available bilingually in English and Spanish (both included). The curriculum is based on the educational competencies outlined in a 2025 JAMA paper and culminates in a certification that grants doctors the clinical confidence and protocols to prescribe effectively.
- Legal Supply Channel and Exclusivity: Membership provides doctors with exclusive access to the only legal, verified, and high-quality cannabis products in Costa Rica through its strategic partner, Farmacia Azul. This exclusive alliance ensures a Ministry of Health-compliant supply chain, guaranteeing product safety and legal peace of mind for the physician. MEDEC-CR-certified doctors are the first and only to have this verified prescription channel, and providers can earn rewards for prescribing products, which can help pay off their renewing membership fees.
- Advocacy and Support: MEDEC-CR acts as the certifying body and advocacy group for cannabis healthcare professionals. It assists members with legal compliance, provides patient-facing educational materials (handouts, flyers, courses) that can feature an organization’s branding, and offers marketing support.
- Currently: The first, legal high-THC products in Costa Rica are pending the government’s digital registration into the Ministry of Health’s electronic prescription database to make these inaugural products available exclusively through Farmacia Azul and MEDEC-certified doctors. Until then, clinics like CVCC may train with MEDEC and work with legal CBD options. Recall that even legal, over-the-counter CBD in doses over 70 mg daily must be recommended and medically supervised by a doctor in Costa Rica.
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Legal & Regulations
Note: MEDEC-CR does not handle or sell any cannabis or CBD products. Only Farmacia Azul is legally capable of fulfilling and delivering electronic scripts of Ministry of Health-sanctioned products prescribed only by MEDEC-certified doctors.
Yes, medical cannabis prescriptions are legal in Costa Rica under specific regulations. Doctors and clinics like Cura Vida Cannabis Clinics assist with the process.
Farmacia Azul is the sole authorized fulfiller and nationwide distributor of digital cannabis prescriptions in Costa Rica. However, the Ministry of Health must finalize the electronic registrations of these products first before they can be legally prescribed and fulfilled.
Everything is done only in accordance with CR Law 10113 and RCTR515:2024 in effect.
Absolutely, telemedicine options are available to consult qualified doctors from the comfort of your home via Cura Vida Cannabis Clinics.
We can start you on high-CBD protocols while we await the successful registration of high-THC products via Farmacia Azul and the Ministry of Health.
Recall that more than 70 mg of daily CBD requires medical guidance in Costa Rica, even if the product is sold over-the-counter. Many conditions may be alleviated or even successfully managed by CBD alone.
MEDEC-CR is a prescriber network and professional training program and does not operate its own clinic nor manage patients directly.
However, our partner doctors and clinics, including MediRed and Cura Vida Cannabis Clinics, are located in San José and other major cities across Costa Rica for your convenience.
Through these networks and close affiliations, we offer consultation services across major regions in Costa Rica to ensure accessible care. Our services cover:
San José & Escazú
Guanacaste
Alajuela
Heredia
Limón
Cartago
Puntarenas
If you are outside these major hubs, our comprehensive telemedicine partner CVCC allows you to access a professional cannabis consultation anywhere in the country with delivery options available through Farmacia Azul.
To legally obtain a medical cannabis prescription in Costa Rica, you must undergo a formal medical evaluation by a licensed physician registered with the Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Costa Rica.
MEDEC-certified doctors assess your medical history and current health conditions to determine if cannabis therapy is right for you. If approved, you will receive a legal medical prescription and a personalized treatment plan following the official Costa Rican medical cannabis guidelines once legal products are registered and available.
Unlike some countries or states with recreational dispensaries on every corner, Costa Rica’s medical cannabis framework regulates distribution through specialized, licensed pharmacies and healthcare channels rather than traditional recreational dispensaries.
To access medical cannabis legally, patients must hold a valid medical e-prescription issued by a certified Costa Rican healthcare provider through the Automated Digital Prescription System.
Yes! Our exclusive telehealth partner, Cura Vida Cannabis Clinics, offers secure, confidential cannabis telehealth and online consultations across Costa Rica.
You can speak to a licensed medical cannabis doctor from the comfort of your own home. Our online appointments follow the exact same thorough medical evaluation process as an in-office visit, and eligible patients receive their legal prescriptions electronically when legally-registered products become available.
Medical Conditions
Learn about how cannabis can help manage chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and more with evidence-based answers.
Medical cannabis is commonly utilized as a complementary treatment to help manage symptoms of various chronic and treatment-resistant conditions. Our doctors specialize in tailoring therapies for:
Chronic Pain & Inflammation: Managing joint, muscle, or neurological pain.
Anxiety & Depression: Promoting relaxation and mood regulation.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): Easing trauma-induced stress and sleep disturbances.
Neurological Disorders: Addressing conditions affecting the nervous system.
Cancer Support: Helping alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and improving appetite.
Many more conditions: Covered during MEDEC training
The official list of recommended therapeutic indications for medicinal cannabis products is found in Annex II of RTCR515:2024, and includes:
- Pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries.
- Nausea and vomiting (derived from chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and medication for HIV or hepatitis).
- Appetite stimulation in palliative care for patients undergoing oncological treatments or with AIDS.
- Chronic pain (associated with oncological or nervous system diseases, such as neuropathic pain, phantom limb pain, trigeminal neuralgia, or post-herpes zoster).
- Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome.
- Epilepsy and treatment of severe convulsive disorders in childhood, such as Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut.
- Therapy-resistant Glaucoma.
Yes, according to RTCR515:2024, a treating physician may prescribe medicinal cannabis products for other indications if the patient has a serious illness and one of the following criteria is met:
- A generally accepted standard therapy does not exist or cannot be applied based on the physician’s justified evaluation
- There is a reasonable possibility that medical cannabis will have a positive effect on the disease process or severe symptoms
- Standard therapies have failed
Yes. For dried cannabis products, the maximum quantity a patient can legally possess in a public place is the lesser of:
- 30 times the daily amount indicated on the prescription, OR
- 150 grams of dried product
Products with a total THC concentration equal to or greater than 0.3% are considered “subject to fiscalization” (drug control). These products MUST be prescribed and dispensed ONLY through the restrictive Automated Digital Prescription System for Psychotropics and Narcotics. Products with less than 0.3% THC require a standard medical prescription.
A doctor’s prescription is required for specific cannabis products due to legal regulations concerning potency and dose, as well as the necessity for medical oversight to ensure patient safety and optimal therapeutic results.
- Legal Thresholds for Prescription
- High-THC Products: Any product with a total THC concentration equal to or greater than 0.3% is considered “subject to fiscalization” (drug control) and MUST be prescribed through the Automated Digital Prescription System for Psychotropics and Narcotics.
- High-Dose CBD Products: Products that administer a total daily dose greater than 70 mg of CBD require a doctor’s recommendation or registration as medicinal cannabis products. OTC CBD products are only available if the recommended dose is less than 70 milligrams of CBD and less than 1% THC.
- Clinical and Safety Reasons
- Optimizing Treatment: While CBD is non-impairing, it requires long-term, routine dosing for maximal effectiveness over 4–12 weeks. THC products are best for on-demand relief but cause impairing effects and require self-limiting use. A healthcare professional helps balance these factors for a personalized plan.
- Preventing Self-Medicating: Unsupervised self-medicating may lead patients to avoid more appropriate clinical care.
- Managing Drug Interactions: A physician or pharmacist is needed to monitor for potential drug-drug interactions. For example, the risk of elevated liver enzymes is most likely when concurrently taking anticonvulsant drugs, and monitoring is recommended for patients taking multiple medications or high daily CBD doses (>100mg)
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