Is Weed Legal in Ghana?

Recreational marijuana is illegal in Ghana, although the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019) softened some penalties and opened a controlled pathway for industrial and medicinal cannabis. The Act repealed the older Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanctions) Law 1990 (PNDCL 236), which had imposed mandatory minimum sentences of ten years for any cannabis offense.

Section 37 of Act 1019 reclassifies simple possession of narcotics, including cannabis, as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than 200 penalty units (currently around GHS 2,400) or imprisonment of not more than six months. Trafficking, dealing, and cultivation outside a license remain felonies carrying five to ten years. The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), which replaced the Narcotics Control Board in 2020, leads enforcement. A 2022 Supreme Court ruling temporarily struck down Section 43, which had authorized licensed cultivation, but Parliament re-enacted the provision in July 2023.

Public smoking remains routine in parts of Accra and Kumasi, but raids, especially of dealers and import operations, continue.

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