Cote d'Ivoire
Is Weed Legal in Cote d'Ivoire?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Cote d'Ivoire. Law No. 88-686 of 22 July 1988 repressing trafficking and illicit use of stupefiants, psychotropic substances and poisons, as amended, classifies cannabis (locally called banghi or kaya) as a stupefiant. Article 8 sets penalties at one to five years' imprisonment and a fine of XOF 100,000 to XOF 5,000,000 for personal use; trafficking penalties reach ten to twenty years.
The Direction de la Police des Stupefiants et des Drogues (DPSD), under the Ministere de l'Interieur et de la Securite, conducts seizures in Abidjan, Bouake, and along the Liberian and Ghanaian borders. Cultivation is concentrated in the forested west and southwest. Possession at Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) triggers prosecution; tourists receive no special treatment, and there is no decriminalisation threshold.
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 ·
Cote d'Ivoire
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited for recreational use
Regulator
Direction de la Police des Stupefiants et des Drogues (DPSD); Ministere de l'Interieur et de la Securite; Ministere de la Sante
Key regulation
Law No. 88-686 of 22 July 1988 repressing trafficking and illicit use of stupefiants, psychotropic substances and poisons
Effective
July 22, 1988
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 and DPSD coordinate interdiction at the Port of Abidjan, the Port of San Pedro, and at land borders with Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. No medicinal or industrial regime is in force.
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