Is Weed Legal in Egypt?

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in Egypt. Anti-Narcotics Law No. 182 of 1960, amended notably by Law No. 122 of 1989, criminalizes cultivation, possession, sale, import, and export of cannabis in all forms, expressly including hashish, bango (local-grown herbal cannabis), and resin extracts.

Possession for personal use draws a minimum of one year of imprisonment and a fine starting at 1,000 Egyptian pounds, often pleaded down only after lengthy pretrial detention. Cultivation under Article 33 carries life imprisonment with hard labor or the death penalty when trafficking intent is established, alongside fines of LE 100,000 to LE 500,000. Distribution and import attract similar capital exposure. The Anti-Narcotics General Administration (ANGA) under the Ministry of Interior leads enforcement, supported by border-control units at Cairo International Airport and Suez Canal crossings.

Foreign nationals receive no leniency. Diplomatic intervention is limited, and Egyptian prisons remain overcrowded. There is no medical cannabis program, no clinical trial pathway, and no pharmacy stock of cannabinoid medicines.

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.

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