--- description: The governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, signed an executive order on Sunday that has permitted the use of medical marijuana in the territory. title: Puerto Rico Governor Signs Executive Order to Legalize Medical Pot image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd42e649fe5c9fb66/6987ee3f428a9e7338ccb3d8/183834727-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [medicine](/tag/medicine/) ## medicine Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Puerto Rico Governor Signs Executive Order to Legalize Medical Marijuana by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 4, 2015 5:35 PM CUT  forbidden flower forbidden flowerGetty Images by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 4, 2015 5:35 PM CUT The governor of Puerto Rico [signed an executive order](http://www.fortaleza.pr.gov/content/gobernador-ordena-viabilizar-uso-medicinal-de-productos-derivados-del-cannabis "undefined") Sunday to permit the use of medical marijuana in the U.S. territory. “We’re taking a significant step in the area of health that is fundamental to our development and quality of life,” Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said in a statement. “I am sure that many patients will receive appropriate treatment that will offer them new hope.” Padilla noted that research supports the use of marijuana to relieve pain and symptoms from disorders that range from multiple sclerosis to glaucoma. Puerto Rico’s health secretary has three months to release a report on how the executive order will be implemented in the territory and what its impact will be, [the Associated Press reports](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB%5FPUERTO%5FRICO%5FMEDICAL%5FMARIJUANA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined"). Medical marijuana is legal in 23 U.S. states. \[[_AP_](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB%5FPUERTO%5FRICO%5FMEDICAL%5FMARIJUANA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined")\] ### 7 Dizzying GIFs of Spinning Cannabis Strains  Hawgs Breath Type: Indica Lineage: Hindu Kush x Afghani Smell/Taste: Fruity, Earthy, Citrus Effect: Euphoric, Relaxed, Uplifted, Sleepiness, Pain Relief, Stress/Anxiety Relief Nugshots  Ed Rosenthal Super Bud Type:Hybrid Lineage: Afghani Indica x Hindu Kush x Mexican Sativa x Thai Sativa x African Hybrid Smell/Taste: Mint, Earthy, Citrus, Effect: Uplifted, Relaxing, Active, Pain/Stress Relief Nugshots  Grape Ape Type: Indica Hybrid Lineage: Afghani x Skunk #1 Smell/Taste: Sweet, Grape, Berry, Effect: Relaxing, Pain Relief, Sleepiness Nugshots  Bubba Kush Type: Indica Lindage: Bubble Gum x OG Kush Smell/Taste: Sweet, Earthy, Citrus, Perfume Effect: Calming, Body Relaxation Nugshots  Black Poison No known reliable data. Nugshots  Platinum Bubba Kush Type: Indica Lineage: Platinum OG Kush x Bubba Kush Smell/Taste: Floral, Sweet, Fruity, Earthy Effect: Body Relaxation, Pain Relief, Appetite Stimulation, Sleepiness Nugshots  Mango Haze Type: Hybrid Lineage: Northern Lights #5 x Skunk #1 x Haze Smell/Taste: Mango, Pine, Citrus, Tropical, Mint Effect: Uplifting, Cerebral, Euphoric Nugshots  Platinum OG Kush Type: Indica Hybrid Lineage: Master Kush x OG Kush Smell/Taste: Earthy, Sweet, Pungent, Pine Effect: Sedation, Calming, Anxiety Relief, Appetite Stimulation Nugshots  Hindu Kush Type: Indica Lineage: Unknown Smell/Taste: Earthy, Sweet, Piney, Effect: Relaxing, Pain Relief, Body Sensation, Sleepiness Nugshots ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3845638/puerto-rico-medical-marijuana/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3845638/puerto-rico-medical-marijuana/"},"headline":"Puerto Rico Governor Signs Executive Order to Legalize Medical Marijuana","datePublished":"2015-05-04T17:35:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:04:11.420Z","description":"The order goes into immediate effect","url":"https://time.com/3845638/puerto-rico-medical-marijuana/","keywords":["medicine","Pot","medical marijuana","Puerto Rico","governor"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd42e649fe5c9fb66/6987ee3f428a9e7338ccb3d8/183834727-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandra Sifferlin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd42e649fe5c9fb66/6987ee3f428a9e7338ccb3d8/183834727-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"183834727","caption":"183834727","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/medicine/","name":"medicine"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3845638/puerto-rico-medical-marijuana/","name":"Puerto Rico Governor Signs Executive Order to Legalize Medical Marijuana"}}]}] ```