Is Weed Legal in Dominican Republic?
May 29, 2026
Cannabis is illegal in the Dominican Republic under Law 50-88. Possession up to 20g is treated as personal use; trafficking carries 5-20 years. 2026 guide.
Cannabis is illegal in the Dominican Republic under Law 50-88. Possession up to 20g is treated as personal use; trafficking carries 5-20 years. 2026 guide.
Cannabis is illegal in the Dominican Republic for all purposes under Law 50-88 (Ley sobre Drogas y Sustancias Controladas), enforced by the Direccion Nacional de Control de Drogas (DNCD). There is no medical cannabis program and no recreational framework as of May 2026.
Law 50-88 classifies cannabis as a controlled substance and distinguishes possession by quantity: up to 20 grams is treated as simple possession for personal consumption, carrying lighter penalties (typically fines and short detention), while quantities between 20 g and 1 kg are classified as distribution, and over 1 kg as trafficking, punishable by 5-20 years in prison and fines up to RD$50,000-RD$500,000 (roughly USD $830-$8,300). Cultivation of any amount is criminalized.
DNCD enforcement is active, particularly in tourist zones such as Punta Cana, Bavaro, Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial, and Sosua, where foreign nationals have been arrested for small amounts. Several modest decriminalization bills surfaced in the Congreso Nacional between 2022 and 2024, but none advanced to a vote, and the Ministerio de Salud Publica (MSP) has issued no medical cannabis regulations through Q2 2026.
Illegal
Direccion Nacional de Control de Drogas (DNCD)
0% (no legal THC threshold; all cannabis prohibited)
Law 50-88 (Drug and Controlled Substances Act)
Import and export of cannabis is prohibited. The DNCD and the Direccion General de Aduanas (DGA) treat any cross-border movement of cannabis or cannabis seeds as drug trafficking under Law 50-88, with penalties of 5-20 years and fines up to RD$500,000 (~USD $8,300). Travelers should not bring cannabis or cannabis-derived products into the country, including from jurisdictions where it is legal.
