Is Hemp Legal in Cameroon?
May 29, 2026
Hemp cultivation is illegal in Cameroon under the 1997 Narcotics Law. No licensing regime exists; imports are refused at Customs.
Hemp cultivation is illegal in Cameroon under the 1997 Narcotics Law. No licensing regime exists; imports are refused at Customs.
Industrial hemp is illegal to cultivate in Cameroon. Law No. 97/019 of 7 August 1997 makes no distinction between psychoactive cannabis and low-THC hemp, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) has not established a licensing regime, seed register, or permitted cultivar list. Hemp seeds, fibre, hurd, and biomass are treated as narcotics by Customs.
There is no pilot programme or export-oriented framework comparable to Rwanda's 2021 medicinal cannabis Order. Reform discussions around hemp for textiles and construction have been raised by farmer cooperatives in the Northwest, but as of 2026 no draft legislation has been gazetted. Importers should expect refusal at Douala port and at Garoua and Maroua land entry points.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER); Ministry of Public Health
No legal hemp threshold
Law No. 97/019 of 7 August 1997 on the control of narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursors
Import and export of hemp seed, fibre, biomass, and finished hemp products are prohibited. The Direction Generale des Douanes treats hemp shipments as Table I narcotics. No commercial cultivation licenses are issued.
