Is Weed Legal in Curacao?
May 29, 2026
Marijuana is illegal in Curacao. The Opium Ordinance 1960 criminalises cannabis; Dutch coffeeshop tolerance does not apply.
Marijuana is illegal in Curacao. The Opium Ordinance 1960 criminalises cannabis; Dutch coffeeshop tolerance does not apply.
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Curacao. As a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacao maintains its own legislation: the Opium Ordinance 1960 (Opiumlandsverordening 1960), as amended, classifies cannabis (hennep) on the prohibited List II of soft drugs. Unlike European Netherlands policy, Curacao does not operate a tolerated coffeeshop regime; possession, sale, cultivation, and importation are prosecuted under the Ordinance, with penalties including fines and imprisonment of up to four years for possession and longer for trafficking.
The Korps Politie Curacao (KPC), the Recherche Samenwerkingsteam (RST) (a Kingdom-level investigative unit) and Douane Curacao (customs) enforce drug law. Hato International Airport (now Curacao International Airport, CUR) and the Willemstad and Bullenbaai seaports see active interdiction, particularly given Curacao's position as a transhipment point between South America and Europe. Tourists detained with cannabis face prosecution; the European-Netherlands gedoogbeleid (tolerance policy) does not extend to Curacao.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Korps Politie Curacao (KPC); Recherche Samenwerkingsteam (RST); Douane Curacao; Openbaar Ministerie Curacao
Prohibited for recreational use; no tolerance policy
Opium Ordinance 1960 (Opiumlandsverordening 1960)
Import and export of recreational cannabis are prohibited. Douane Curacao inspects shipments at Curacao International Airport (CUR), the Willemstad cruise and cargo ports, Bullenbaai, and Caracasbaai. Trafficking penalties under the Opium Ordinance reach twelve years' imprisonment in aggravated cases, with the Recherche Samenwerkingsteam (a joint Kingdom investigation unit) targeting transnational organised crime on Caribbean smuggling routes.
