Bahamas
Is Hemp Legal in Bahamas?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 28, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp has no separate legal framework in The Bahamas. The Cannabis Act, 2024 expressly does not apply to hemp, and the country has not enacted a parallel hemp statute. Hemp therefore remains where the 1962 amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act left it: inside the controlled-substance schedule alongside cannabis, with no commercial cultivation, processing, or general-retail product pathway.
That gap matters for anyone planning fiber, grain, seed-oil, or hemp-derived consumer goods. There is no 0.3% THC industrial-use exemption, no licensing window at the Ministry of Agriculture, and no certified seed program. Importers of hemp foods, hemp seeds, hemp-fiber textiles, and hemp protein products operate without legal clarity and face the same Dangerous Drugs Act exposure as cannabis importers. The 2024 reform compendium did flag hemp as a future consideration, but no commencement order or supplemental bill has been published to bring hemp into a regulated category 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.
Key facts ·
Bahamas
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
No statutory industrial hemp THC threshold
Regulator
Royal Bahamas Police Force and Bahamas Customs Department under the Dangerous Drugs Act; no dedicated hemp regulator
Key regulation
Dangerous Drugs Act, Chapter 228 (as amended 1962); Cannabis Act, 2024 (explicitly excludes hemp)
Effective
January 1, 1962
Adult-use cannabis
Pending
Medical cannabis
Pending
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Hemp imports are treated as cannabis imports under the Dangerous Drugs Act. Customs intercepts hemp seed, fiber, hempcrete inputs, and hemp food products at the border, and there is no commercial export pathway because cultivation is not permitted. Operators cannot use the Cannabis Authority's licensing platform for hemp activities, since the Cannabis Act, 2024 expressly removes hemp from its scope.
FAQ
Common questions
Latest
