Is Weed Legal in Burkina Faso?
May 29, 2026
Marijuana is illegal in Burkina Faso under Law 017-99/AN. Possession carries two months to two years' imprisonment. No medical access.
Marijuana is illegal in Burkina Faso under Law 017-99/AN. Possession carries two months to two years' imprisonment. No medical access.
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Burkina Faso. Law No. 017-99/AN of 29 April 1999 on the suppression of drug trafficking and consumption classifies cannabis as a stupefiant. Possession for personal use is punishable by two months to two years' imprisonment and a fine of XOF 50,000 to XOF 500,000; trafficking carries five to ten years, with aggravated terms up to twenty years.
The Comite National de Lutte contre la Drogue (CNLD) coordinates policy, while the Police Nationale and Gendarmerie Nationale conduct enforcement in Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, and along smuggling routes through the Sahel. Cannabis cultivation is reported in southwestern provinces. Possession at Thomas Sankara International Airport (OUA) leads to prosecution; tourists are not exempt. Ongoing security operations across the north and east have not produced any de facto tolerance.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Comite National de Lutte contre la Drogue (CNLD); Police Nationale; Gendarmerie Nationale; Ministere de la Sante
Prohibited for recreational use
Law No. 017-99/AN of 29 April 1999 on the suppression of drug trafficking and consumption
Import and export of recreational cannabis are prohibited. The Direction Generale des Douanes coordinates interdiction at Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso airports and at land borders with Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire. No medicinal or industrial regime is in force.
