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US Territory Puerto Rico And Cannabis

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It is a popular tourist destination as part of the US, but what about consuming cannabis there?

Over 5 million people travel to Puerto Rico each year, the island territory of the US is popular with tourists. Beaches, outdoor adventures, good food and sun are always a popular draw and it is considered a safe and easy destinations. Millions of American’s have visited, but as the US embraces marijuana, what about US territory Puerto Rico and cannabis?

Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1898, the United States went to war with Spain and invaded their colony Puerto Rico on July 25, 1898. It has been under Spanish rule for over 400 years.War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris with Spain ceding Puerto Rico to the United States, along with other territories like Guam. After the war, Puerto Rico came under direct U.S. military rule for about two years. In 1900, the U.S. Congress passed the Foraker Act, which established a civilian government for Puerto Rico and officially designated it as an “unincorporated territory” belonging to the United States.  It has some benefits of the US, but not a formal voice in the Congress.

The locals have nothing against fun, the national drink of Puerto Rico is the Pina Coloda. Made with local rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. It’s often made without rum so that everyone can enjoy it. Also, 85% of the population identifies as Catholic, a faith that doesn’t mind some wine.

Like the mainland US, Puerto Rico enacted legislation banning cannabis in 1932, making it illegal to plant, import, purchase, or sell marijuana. The prohibition remained in place for decades, with attempts at decriminalization failing to gain traction. In 2013, a proposal to decriminalize cannabis was met with significant public opposition, with 70% of those surveyed against the idea.

A major shift occurred in 2015 when Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla signed an executive order permitting the use of medical cannabis. This was followed in 2017 by the passage of Act 42-2017, officially legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes in Puerto Rico.The medical cannabis program established regulations for:

  • Licensing of dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and caregivers
  • Safety protocols including product testing and labeling requirements
  • Taxation of cannabis sales to fund social programs and education initiatives

While smoking cannabis remains prohibited, other forms of consumption are permitted for approved medical conditions. Recreational use of cannabis in Puerto Rico remains illegal. Possession is considered a crime with some type of punishment.

However, in 2015 the governor advised judges not to imprison defendants caught with less than 6 grams of cannabis, indicating some leniency for small amounts. Despite its illegal status, marijuana remains one of the most commonly abused illicit drugs in Puerto Rico

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Amy Hansen

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