Is Weed Legal in Cook Islands?

Recreational marijuana is illegal in the Cook Islands. The Narcotics and Misuse of Drugs Act 2004 schedules cannabis as a Class C controlled drug, and the Cook Islands Police Service enforces narcotics offenses across Rarotonga and the outer islands. The Cook Islands is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, but operates its own criminal law independently of Wellington.

Section 7 of the Act criminalizes cultivation; Section 9 criminalizes possession and use. Penalties range from fines to imprisonment, with cultivation offenses carrying up to seven years. The Cook Islands National Drug Policy targets cannabis as a domestic enforcement priority, particularly in the cultivation belts of Rarotonga's inland valleys. Rarotonga International Airport is the primary border control point. No medical cannabis or industrial hemp legislation has been enacted, though there have been periodic discussions about medical cannabis modeled on New Zealand's framework.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.