Burkina Faso
Is Weed Legal in Burkina Faso?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
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.
Key facts ·
Burkina Faso
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited for recreational use
Regulator
Comite National de Lutte contre la Drogue (CNLD); Police Nationale; Gendarmerie Nationale; Ministere de la Sante
Key regulation
Law No. 017-99/AN of 29 April 1999 on the suppression of drug trafficking and consumption
Effective
April 29, 1999
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
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.
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