Is Hemp Legal in Belize?

Industrial hemp has no operating legal market in Belize. The Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill 2022 was drafted to separate hemp from controlled cannabis and create cultivation, processing, and trade licenses, but the bill stalled after church-led opposition triggered a referendum demand. The government then dropped the referendum in July 2022 over its estimated BZ$5 million cost. The hemp licensing scheme has not been proclaimed and is not enforceable as of 2026.

Without that proclamation, hemp remains caught by the Misuse of Drugs Act, Cap. 103, which treats Cannabis sativa as a controlled drug without distinguishing low-THC industrial varieties. There is no statutory THC threshold separating hemp from marijuana, no national hemp registry, and no licensed seed program. Any commercial cultivation today depends on tolerated grey-market activity rather than a recognized permit. Ministers have publicly revisited legalization but no successor bill has been gazetted.

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