Is Weed Legal in Ecuador?

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026

Recreational marijuana in Ecuador is decriminalized in principle but enforcement has tightened significantly. Article 364 of the Constitution treats drug use as a public-health matter rather than a crime, and the 2014 Organic Comprehensive Criminal Code (COIP) preserves the principle that personal use should not be punished.

In November 2023, President Daniel Noboa repealed CONSEP Resolution 001-2013, the table that had set a 10-gram threshold below which cannabis possession was treated as non-criminal. With that table revoked, police and prosecutors now apply judicial discretion under COIP Articles 220 and 364 to distinguish personal use from micro-trafficking. Quantities just above the former 10-gram line can trigger prosecution carrying one to three years of imprisonment, and possession near schools, on public transport, or with intent to sell escalates penalties sharply. The National Police's Anti-Narcotics Directorate (DNA) leads enforcement, and prosecutors focus on visible street-level activity in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca.

Medical use moves through a separate legal route described below. Recreational sale and large-scale cultivation remain criminal.

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