Is Weed Legal in Eswatini?
May 29, 2026
Marijuana is illegal in Eswatini under the 1922 Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs Act. Trafficking carries up to fifteen years.
Marijuana is illegal in Eswatini under the 1922 Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs Act. Trafficking carries up to fifteen years.
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs Act 1922 (as amended) and the Pharmacy Act 1929 prohibit possession, cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis (locally called insangu or dagga). Penalties range from fines to imprisonment of up to fifteen years for trafficking, with aggravated terms where dealers operate near schools or in organised groups.
Eswatini is one of the world's largest illicit cannabis producers per capita, with Swazi Gold a globally recognised strain grown in the Hhohho and Lubombo regions. Despite cultural and economic prevalence, enforcement by the Royal Eswatini Police Service and the Eswatini Revenue Service Customs branch remains active at King Mswati III International Airport (SHO), Matsapha Airport (MTS), and at the South African and Mozambican border posts of Ngwenya, Lavumisa, and Lomahasha. A draft Cannabis Bill discussed in 2017-2020 has not been enacted.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Royal Eswatini Police Service; Ministry of Health
Prohibited for recreational use
Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs Act 1922 (as amended); Pharmacy Act 1929
Import and export of recreational cannabis are prohibited. The Eswatini Revenue Service enforces interdiction at King Mswati III International Airport (SHO), Matsapha Airport, and at the South African and Mozambican border posts. Domestically cultivated cannabis is frequently trafficked into South Africa; the export remains illegal under both jurisdictions.
