Uruguay Becomes First Country to Register CBD as Medicine

Uruguay’s Ministry of Health has officially registered cannabidiol (CBD) as medicine, making it the first country in the world to do so. The medicine is called Epifractan 2% (indicating that it contains 2% CBD).

Uruguay has strict standards for quality and safety when it comes to medicine and marijuana, VIA News reports. The raw CBD oil is imported from Switzerland and certified by the Ministry of Health. Uruguay will then produce the final product.

The cost of Epifractan 2% is expected to be about $70. Experts say that importing a similar product would raise the cost to about $250.

Doctors will be the only ones allowed to prescribe the product.

ICC Labs will install a laboratory to create the new medicine. Following installation and approvals, the facility should have product ready by April 2018.