Chile's Presidential Elections: A Win-Win for Cannabis (Sorta ...)

Home | Canna Law Blog | Chile’s Presidential Elections: A Win-Win for Cannabis (Sorta …) Chile's presidential elections are heading to a second round. We're paying attention for many reasons, not least the fact that the results will have significant implications for cannabis policy, not just in Chile, but in all of Latin America. The winner of the first round was José Antonio Kast, who eked out a victory over second-placed Gabriel Boric. Kast and Boric could hardly offer more divergent policy directions. The former is a conservative (some say ultra-conservative or far-right) defender of Chile's neoliberal model, who thinks Chile's established right-wing parties are adopting the "slogans of the new left." For his part, Boric is a former student leader, whose coalition includes the Communist Party of Chile. Boric has pledged to kill off Chile's neoliberal system, raising taxes, engaging in industrial policy, and doing away with Chile's private pensions system, a hallmark of its current model. When it to cannabis, however, there is not that much daylight between the two candidates' positions. Boric's platform includes a call to consider legal changes to legalize adult-use cannabis. This stance is not that surprising for a 35-year-old former student leader with a tattoo of a trout on his forearm (a homage to the Magallanes region from which he hails and which he represents in Chile's legislature). However, recent election cycles in Latin America make it clear that the left is not always on the side of legalization. Kast, meanwhile, supports the medical use of cannabis, though not its recreational use. Frankly, this is a much more moderate stance than we'd expect from someone demonized as "a member of the extreme far right." Contrast his views to those of Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, to whom Kast is often compared. The Brazilian rabidly opposes medical cannabis, opining that "the left always takes advantage of an opportunity to get drugs" and lamenting that it's "weed yes, chloroquine no." Elaborating on his opposition to adult-use cannabis, Kast posited that "given the alcoholism that exists today in Chile at the youth level and the sale of tobacco to minors, it will not be possible, based on those precedents, to regulate the consumption of marijuana to minors." It is a fair objection and one based on practical considerations, far removed from the reefer madness (or shall we say maconha madness) exhibited by other regional leaders (and not just on the right). The prospect of a regulatory framework for medical cannabis in Chile is very exciting. Chile is not just a relatively wealthy market of 20 million people, but one of Latin America's undisputed economic leaders. Of course, for these reasons, the prospect of Chile opening up to medical and adult-use cannabis is even more exciting. In any case, expect others in the region to pay attention to what happens in Chile with cannabis. For now, we'll be paying attention to what happens in Chile on December 16. Expect more from us on developments in the Country of Poets. Check Out Our Cannabis Law Services Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn E-mail Comment Fred Rocafort Fred leads Harris Sliwoski’s intellectual property practice and is the coordinator of the firm’s international team. Much of Fred’s practice consists of helping cannabis businesses protect their brands. He also works with entrepreneurs and companies entering the Web3 space, a new frontier for IP law. Prior to joining Harris Sliwoski, Fred worked overseas for more than a decade, in both government and private sector roles. Fred is a regular contributor to the award-winning China Law Blog and Canna Law Blog. Fred began his career overseas as a U.S. consular officer in Guangzhou, China, where he advocated for fairer treatment of American companies and citizens in China and for stronger intellectual property rights enforcement. After entering the private sector, Fred worked at a Shanghai law firm as a foreign legal advisor and later joined one of the oldest American law firms in China, helping foreign companies navigate the Chinese legal environment. He also led the legal team at a Hong Kong-based brand protection consultancy, spending most of his time out in the field, protecting clients against counterfeiters and fraudsters in Greater China, Southeast Asia and Latin America. In addition to his IP work, as a native Spanish speaker, Fred works closely with different Harris Sliwoski teams on Latin America and Spain matters. Fred also provides advice to cannabis industry participants and other businesses on import and export transactions. Fred is an ardent supporter of FC Barcelona—and would be even in the absence of Catalan forebears who immigrated to Puerto Rico in the mid-1800s. Harris Sliwoski Attorney Read more posts [email protected] Read More International Cannabis Law Related Posts September 25, 2026 DEA Enforcement in a Changing Cannabis Landscape: Rescheduling, Hemp, and What Comes Next September 17, 2026 The Supreme Court May Decide if Cannabis-Related Residency Requirements are Unconstitutional September 16, 2026 A $31.8 Million Cannabis-Related Verdict That a Federal Court Wouldn’t Enforce September 15, 2026 Jason Adelstone Moderates Federal Cannabis Policy Discussion at IgniteIt Denver September 11, 2026 Medical Marijuana in Schedule III Survives Its First Major Challenge September 10, 2026 How to Acquire a Colorado Cannabis License September 4, 2026 The Intoxicating Hemp Products Ban Was Delayed a Month. Now What? 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