Is Hemp Legal in Guyana?
May 29, 2026
Industrial hemp is illegal in Guyana. No legal distinction from cannabis under the 1988 Narcotic Drugs Act. No NAREI cultivar approval.
Industrial hemp is illegal in Guyana. No legal distinction from cannabis under the 1988 Narcotic Drugs Act. No NAREI cultivar approval.
Industrial hemp is illegal in Guyana. The Ministry of Agriculture has not issued cultivation licenses, and Guyanese law does not define hemp as separate from cannabis. All Cannabis sativa plants fall under the 1988 Narcotic Drugs Act regardless of THC content.
The Guyana Sugar Corporation and rice industry have studied alternative crops, but hemp has not entered the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute's approved cultivar list. A 2019 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) report recommended regional hemp pilots, and Guyana's then-government acknowledged it but took no legislative action. Cultivation without a permit carries the same penalties as marijuana — up to 5 years imprisonment and asset forfeiture.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Illegal
Ministry of Agriculture; National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)
Prohibited (no hemp definition)
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 1988
Hemp seeds, fiber, and CBD-bearing biomass are blocked at Cheddi Jagan and Linden customs. No commercial hemp import license exists.
