Is Weed Legal in Aruba?

Cannabis is illegal in Aruba for both recreational and medical use under the Landsverordening verdovende middelen (Narcotics Ordinance, AB 1990 No. GT 7). Possession, cultivation, sale, import, export, and transport all sit on the prohibited list, with no decriminalization framework comparable to the European Netherlands.

The Openbaar Ministerie Aruba treats cannabis as a soft drug under the ordinance's two-tier schedule, but soft-drug status does not equal tolerance. User-quantity possession up to 5 grams is typically resolved through a TOM-zitting (prosecutor's transaction hearing) with fines and possible short detention. Quantities above 5 grams trigger trafficking-tier charges carrying 1 to 5 years imprisonment. Aruba does not recognize foreign medical cannabis cards or prescriptions, and the Bureau Medicinale Cannabis Aruba (BMCA), announced in 2020-2021 to license medical cultivation, has not produced operational commercial licensing as of 2026.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.