Abstract

Like other Latin American countries, Costa Rica has motivated the discussion around the legalization of cannabis and production for industrial and medicinal use. In a social context marked by a polarized public opinion, the debate has focused mainly on its illegal nature and its high consumption among Costa Rican youth; this has had an impact on the possibilities of legislating and challenging the illicit cannabis market. Discussions about the dynamics of cannabis abuse or use should be analyzed under a mixture of geographical, economic and age group variables and factors. This allows this research to further an analysis of the phenomenon of cannabis use in Costa Rican society. This process is carried out with literature, research and data related to the consumption of this psychoactive substance. In addition, the article concludes that there is a negative perception around the different uses of cannabis; not so, the reception and response to which people are exposed that motivate the expression of alternative opinions.

Key words: Hemp; drug use; marijuana; public opinion