CBD on sale in Peruvian pharmacies

Peru is among the most advanced countries in terms of CBD legislation. After legalising medical cannabis in 2017, the country has just authorised the sale of CBD products in pharmacies.

Peruvian CBD legislation

In February 2017, a case related to the use of cannabis shocked Peruvians. A police raid uncovered an underground factory where mothers were extracting CBD oil to help their children suffering from cancer or epilepsy.

In response to the scandal, the government quickly introduced pro-medical CBD legislation, which received unanimous political support. The Peruvian Congress voted by a very large majority in favour (67 votes out of a total of 75) of this bill providing for the legalisation for medical cannabis. It took just a few months for it to enter into force. Law 30681 on the use of cannabis within a medical and therapeutic framework was enacted in November 2017 and came into force one year later. Cannabis has since been authorised in Peru for strictly medical purposes to relieve the symptoms of certain diseases when there is no alternative treatment available. Cancer patients, HIV patients, Alzheimer’s patients and people with epilepsy can alleviate their suffering by taking CBD within a medical framework.

This is not the only country in South America to have adopted this type of law. Chile, Columbia, Argentina and Uruguay have also authorised the consumption of medical CBD.

CBD in Peruvian pharmacies

Although the use of CBD is authorised in Peru to treat certain diseases, cannabis distribution channels are yet to be put in place. Therefore, the Peruvian state took a further step in January 2020 by authorising the marketing of CBD products in pharmacies for "various indications prescribed by a doctor". Two CBD medicines can currently be sold in the country as "natural health products derived from cannabis". Firstly, there is Epifractan, which is manufactured in Uruguay and contains 5% CBD and less than 0.2% THC.

The second product is Sativex, which is prescribed for multiple sclerosis. The importer of Epifractan, the Peruvian company CannFarm, was quick to point out that once import approval is obtained, it will only take a few weeks for patients to gain access to medicines containing CBD. Companies wishing to sell CBD products in pharmacies in Peru must meet two conditions. They must sell products registered by the health authorities and obtain an import permit. The Peruvian Ministry of Health reported that as of July, 6 companies had submitted applications for the approval of 17 drugs. This figure clearly shows the growing interest among medical professionals in the multiple benefits of CBD, a natural solution that can relieve the symptoms of many diseases without causing the side effects associated with a lot of conventional medicines.

It is hoped that the example set by Peru, one of the most advanced countries in terms of the use of CBD for medicinal purposes, will inspire many other countries such as France.