East Timor
Is Weed Legal in East Timor?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Timor-Leste. Cannabis is controlled under the Penal Code of Timor-Leste (Decree-Law No 19/2009) and the Lei sobre o regime juridico do trafico e consumo de estupefacientes e substancias psicotropicas (Law No 4/2025 establishing the precursor framework), enforced by the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) and the Servico Nacional de Investigacao Criminal.
Article 305 of the Penal Code criminalises trafficking in narcotic substances with penalties of 4 to 12 years imprisonment, and possession for consumption is prosecuted as a less serious offense. Timor-Leste ratified the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances upon independence in 2002, and no domestic decriminalisation or medical framework has been enacted. The Ministerio da Saude has not registered cannabinoid medicines.
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 ·
East Timor
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited
Regulator
Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL); Ministerio da Justica; Ministerio da Saude
Key regulation
Penal Code Decree-Law No 19/2009 Article 305; UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961
Effective
April 8, 2009
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Cannabis import and export are prohibited under the Penal Code and the Customs Code. Autoridade Aduaneira de Timor-Leste inspects shipments at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili and the Batugade land border with Indonesia. Australian Border Force coordinates on Timor Sea routes.
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