Cape Verde
Is Hemp Legal in Cape Verde?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp is illegal in Cape Verde. The Ministério da Agricultura e Ambiente has not authorized hemp cultivation, and Lei 78/IV/93 sets no THC threshold to distinguish industrial hemp from psychoactive cannabis cultivars.
Cape Verde's arid Sahelian climate and limited arable land on Santiago, Santo Antão, and Fogo islands have constrained agricultural diversification, and the National Assembly has not produced a hemp licensing bill. Imported finished hemp products such as hemp-seed oil, hemp-protein powder, and textiles circulate in small volumes through Mindelo and Praia health-food and tourist retailers, tolerated when cannabinoid claims are absent and labeling complies with ERIS food-product rules. Smokable hemp flower is treated as cannabis. No commercial export pathway exists.
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 ·
Cape Verde
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited (no hemp definition)
Regulator
Ministério da Agricultura e Ambiente; ERIS
Key regulation
Lei n.º 78/IV/93; no hemp regulation gazetted
Effective
July 12, 1993
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Finished hemp food products may pass customs when labeled as food and free of cannabinoid claims. Smokable hemp flower is barred. No formal hemp cultivation or export framework exists.
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