Puerto Rico health committee hears calls to tighten rules on hemp/CBD products amid surge in synthetic cannabinoids

The House of Representatives Committee on Health held a hybrid hearing on May 9, 2025, to review a bill described at the outset as “Proyecto de la Cámara 2 23” that would amend Ley número 5 del 23 de abril de 1973 to give the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) explicit authority to regulate advertising, offers and sales of products containing cannabidiol (CBD) and related hemp-derived substances. Committee members heard unified testimony from the Puerto Rico Police, the Department of Agriculture’s hemp office (OLIC), and public-policy experts urging sharper legal definitions, new enforcement tools and more resources.

Why it matters: Witnesses told lawmakers that hemp- and CBD-derived products have proliferated in Puerto Rico retail outlets — including gas stations, bakeries and some pharmacies — and that many products on the market now include synthesized cannabinoids or high levels of acidic precursors (THCA) that can convert to psychoactive delta-9 THC when heated. Agency witnesses said this combination of broad availability, mixed labeling and limited inspection capacity creates public-health and enforcement risks, particularly for young people.

Agency testimony and numbers Edison Negrón Ocasio, attorney for the Department of Agriculture, summarized OLIC’s licensing and inspection figures. He said the office has issued dozens of licenses across categories but that relatively few remain active: 141 cultivation licenses (7 active), 51 manufacturing licenses (9 active), 149 importation/distribution licenses (30 active), eight research licenses, three seed-distributor licenses and two laboratory licenses. Agronomist Luis R. López Peña said OLIC currently operates with an acting director and four field inspectors…