Bolivia authorises a child’s compassionate cannabis import

Bolivia’s ombudsman reported on 23 November 2021 that the medicines agency had authorised a cannabis import exclusively for the compassionate treatment of one child. The approval followed a family’s application and intervention by the ombudsman to clarify the agency’s requirements, with treatment to remain under a doctor’s supervision in Bolivia.

A family sought permission for its child’s treatment

The child had severe dystonic cerebral palsy and seizures, according to the ombudsman’s account. She required continuing medication, several kinds of therapy and permanent assistance with everyday functions.

Medical reports supported the request for cannabis treatment. The official account described the application through the child’s health needs and the family’s efforts to obtain the medicine lawfully.

The family applied to AGEMED, the state medicines agency, in September 2020. Its request concerned importing cannabis for this particular child’s care.

Changing requirements complicated the application

The agency approved a procedure under the medicines law, but changes in the requirements made importing the substance difficult. The family needed a clear account of what it had to submit.

The ombudsman arranged meetings, made formal requests and took the matter up with the agency so that the requirements could be clarified and presented by the family.

Those efforts resulted in an administrative resolution authorising the import exclusively for compassionate medical treatment. The published account tied the permission to supervision by a treating doctor in Bolivia.

Controlled substances already required health approval

The 2017 drug-control law required prior health-ministry permission for importing medicinal controlled substances. It also provided limited scientific and medical research permissions and regulated authorised manufacture and prescription supply of medicines containing controlled drugs.

Cannabis and cannabis resin remained listed controlled substances. The 1988 law also continued to punish unlawful possession, cultivation and supply.

Within that restrictive system, the family’s case shows a medicines agency issuing permission for a specific medical need after the application requirements had been resolved.

A later bill proposed a wider patient system

In April 2026, deputy Sandra Hinojosa Núñez submitted a proposal for registered medical patients, licensed growers and manufacturers, and dispensing of prescribed cannabis derivatives through authorised pharmacies.

The Chamber of Deputies still listed that proposal among pending bills in October 2026. It would create a continuing medical supply system with patient registration and product tracking, addressing access on a broader scale than the individual family’s application documented in Bolivia in 2021.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}