Is Weed Legal in El Salvador?

Cannabis is illegal for recreational and medical use in El Salvador. The Ley Reguladora de las Actividades Relativas a las Drogas (Decreto Legislativo No. 153 of 1998) governs all controlled substances, listing cannabis in its annexes. The Consejo Nacional Antidrogas (CNA), under the Ministerio de Justicia y Seguridad Publica, coordinates national policy. The Policia Nacional Civil (PNC) and the Fiscalia General de la Republica handle investigation and prosecution. Since 2022, expansive state-of-exception measures linked to gang enforcement have increased police powers and detentions broadly.

Possession of any amount of cannabis exposes the holder to criminal investigation. Article 34 of the 1998 statute punishes simple possession with imprisonment of one to three years; trafficking under Articles 33 and 36 carries 6 to 15 years. Fines are calculated by reference to the minimum wage. Personal-use thresholds, where applied, are interpreted narrowly by Salvadoran courts. No medical cannabis program has been authorized, and the Direccion Nacional de Medicamentos (DNM) has not registered cannabis pharmaceuticals.

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