Is Weed Legal in Bolivia?

Cannabis is illegal in Bolivia for both recreational and medical use. Ley 1008 de 1988 (Ley del Regimen de la Coca y Sustancias Controladas) governs all controlled substances and classifies cannabis on Schedule I. This is the same law that established the strict-but-distinct regulatory regime for traditional coca leaf chewing - coca is constitutionally protected for cultural use, while cannabis enjoys no comparable carve-out. The Consejo Nacional de Lucha Contra el Trafico Ilicito de Drogas (CONALTID) and Fuerza Especial de Lucha Contra el Narcotrafico (FELCN) handle enforcement under the Ministerio de Gobierno.

Possession is criminalized regardless of quantity, though Article 49 of Ley 1008 allows judges to order treatment instead of incarceration for first-time personal users. Trafficking carries 10 to 25 years' imprisonment under Article 48, with fines from 10,000 to 20,000 bolivianos depending on quantity. The Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional has periodically debated medical-cannabis bills, but none has been enacted as of 2026.

This overview is general information rather than legal counsel. Travelers, expatriates, and patients should consult a Bolivian abogado; FELCN enforcement at El Alto and Viru Viru airports has been particularly aggressive against foreigners.