Guinea-Bissau
Is Weed Legal in Guinea-Bissau?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Guinea-Bissau. Law No. 5/2010 on the legal regime applicable to drug trafficking and consumption (Lei do Combate ao Trafico e Consumo de Estupefacientes) classifies cannabis (canabis sativa, indica, and resin) as a controlled narcotic and criminalises cultivation, possession, transport, and sale. Trafficking carries imprisonment of four to fifteen years, while personal-use possession is punishable by up to three months in prison or a fine under articles 19 and 21.
Enforcement is led by the Policia Judiciaria's drug squad (Brigada Anti-Narcoticos), often with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) support given the country's role as a West African transit point for South American cocaine. Cannabis seizures in Bissau and along the Bijagos archipelago remain frequent. Travellers passing through Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) face inspection; small quantities still trigger prosecution.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Key facts ·
Guinea-Bissau
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited for recreational use
Regulator
Ministerio da Justica; Policia Judiciaria (Brigada Anti-Narcoticos)
Key regulation
Lei No. 5/2010 de 19 de Outubro (Regime Juridico do Trafico e Consumo de Estupefacientes)
Effective
October 19, 2010
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import and export of recreational cannabis are prohibited. The Direccao-Geral das Alfandegas inspects shipments at Bissau's Porto de Bissau and at land crossings with Senegal and Guinea. The country's identification as a narco-state by international agencies has produced sustained interdiction operations; offenders face the four-to-fifteen-year trafficking range under Law No. 5/2010.
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