Is CBD Legal in Cook Islands?
May 29, 2026
CBD is illegal in the Cook Islands under the Narcotics and Misuse of Drugs Act 2004. No NZ-equivalent medical pathway. Full 2026 compliance guide.
CBD is illegal in the Cook Islands under the Narcotics and Misuse of Drugs Act 2004. No NZ-equivalent medical pathway. Full 2026 compliance guide.
CBD is illegal in the Cook Islands. The Narcotics and Misuse of Drugs Act 2004 does not exempt cannabidiol from cannabis scheduling, and Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health has not authorized any cannabinoid medicine for prescription dispensing.
Unlike New Zealand, which reclassified CBD to a prescription medicine in 2017 and allowed Sativex and Epidyolex importation, the Cook Islands has not adopted equivalent reforms. CBD oils, capsules, and topicals are treated as cannabis-derived controlled drugs at the border. Rarotonga Hospital does not dispense cannabinoid prescriptions. Travelers arriving from Auckland have had CBD products seized at Rarotonga International Airport, even when accompanied by New Zealand prescriptions.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health; Cook Islands Police Service
Prohibited
Narcotics and Misuse of Drugs Act 2004
CBD imports are prohibited. The Cook Islands has no medical cannabis import pathway, distinct from New Zealand's framework. Customs at Rarotonga International Airport seizes CBD products even with New Zealand prescriptions, under the Narcotics and Misuse of Drugs Act.
