The Puerto Rico House of Representatives' Health Committee has begun reviewing legislation aimed at curbing the sale of cannabis-related products falsely labeled as industrial hemp in establishments not authorized to sell them.
House Bill 223, introduced by Health Committee Chairman Gabriel Rodríguez-Aguiló, targets products containing more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that are being sold in locations such as gas stations, smoke shops and health food stores. These items are often misleadingly marketed as legal hemp, despite exceeding the legal THC threshold.
"We're facing the reality of recreational cannabis being sold without legal approval," Rodríguez-Aguiló said. "It's being sold in pharmacies, gas stations, bakeries and grocery stores, right under our noses. This is a matter we must address."
Originally, the bill proposed that Puerto Rico's Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO, in Spanish) oversee advertising and enforcement. However, DACO officials said the agency lacks the personnel and funding to carry out such duties.
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