Is Weed Legal in Indonesia?

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026

No — cannabis is strictly illegal in Indonesia for every purpose, with some of the harshest penalties in Asia. Cannabis is a Group I narcotic under Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, a classification reserved for substances deemed to have no therapeutic use. Possession in plant form carries 4 to 12 years' imprisonment plus fines from IDR 800 million to 8 billion, production and supply offenses range from 5 years to life, and trafficking can carry the death penalty. There is no medical cannabis program: the Constitutional Court rejected the latest medical cannabis petition in March 2024, while ordering the government to research the question. Nothing had changed in law as of August 2026.

Indonesia Cannabis and Hemp Overview

Indonesia treats cannabis the way most countries treat heroin. Group I status under the Narcotics Law means no prescriptions, no licensed products, no CBD carve-out, and no personal-use threshold that removes criminal liability. Enforcement is led by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the national police, both of which run sustained campaigns in tourist areas, and the courts hand foreigners long custodial sentences with regularity. The gap between Bali's laid-back reputation and its drug law is the single most dangerous misunderstanding a visitor can bring: cannabis-friendly it is not, and people offering to sell to tourists are frequently connected to police informant networks. Capital punishment remains on the books and in active use for trafficking cases — foreign nationals were arrested in Bali in mid-2025 on charges that could carry the death penalty.

What Indonesian Law Actually Says

Law No. 35 of 2009 (Undang-Undang Nomor 35 Tahun 2009 tentang Narkotika) places cannabis, cannabis resin, and THC in Group I, whose members may be used only for tightly controlled scientific research — Article 8 forbids their use in health services. Article 111 punishes possession, cultivation, or supply of narcotics in plant form with 4 to 12 years and fines of IDR 800 million to 8 billion, rising to 20 years or life where quantities exceed 1 kilogram or five plants. Articles 113 and 114 cover production, import, export, and distribution, with maximum penalties of life imprisonment or death for aggravated trafficking. Article 127 addresses personal users: up to 4 years for Group I self-administration, with courts empowered to order rehabilitation instead of prison for verified dependent users — a discretion applied inconsistently and rarely worth gambling on. Police commonly add urine testing to investigations, and a positive test alone can support an Article 127 charge.

The Medical Cannabis Debate and the Constitutional Court

Pressure to allow medical cannabis has come mainly from families of pediatric patients. In 2020 the Constitutional Court upheld the Group I ban but told the government to study medical use; in Decision No. 13/PUU-XXII/2024, issued March 20, 2024, it again rejected a petition brought by parents of children with cerebral palsy, holding that Group I substances cannot be used for therapy while pointedly ordering the government to conduct the long-promised research "immediately" so the issue can be resolved scientifically. The Health Ministry and BNN have since made periodic announcements about research plans, and legislators have floated narcotics-law revisions, but no medical access pathway, pilot, or reclassification existed as of August 2026. Kratom — a separate Indonesian plant policy debate — has moved faster than cannabis, underscoring how little near-term appetite exists for cannabis reform.

What This Means for Travelers

Do not bring, buy, or use cannabis anywhere in Indonesia, including Bali. Airport screening at Denpasar and Jakarta catches vapes, edibles, and oils as readily as flower, and every THC product — including CBD oil with trace THC, which is likewise a Group I narcotic here — is treated as evidence of a narcotics crime. Street offers in Kuta, Canggu, or Seminyak are a well-documented arrest vector, sometimes via sting. If arrested, expect pre-trial detention measured in months, bail practices unfavorable to foreigners, and sentencing that regularly reaches double digits for quantities Western jurisdictions would treat as personal use; your embassy can visit you but cannot get charges dropped. Medical cannabis paperwork from Australia, Thailand, or Europe has zero legal effect. The only safe quantity of cannabis in Indonesia is none.

What This Means for Operators

There is no cannabis or hemp industry to enter. Group I status blocks cultivation, processing, import, export, and retail of cannabis in any form, including industrial hemp and CBD finished goods; no licensing authority exists and none is proposed. Businesses watching the region for eventual openings should monitor the court-ordered government research and any omnibus revision of the Narcotics Law, but should treat Indonesia as a strict prohibition market for planning purposes — and be careful that products lawful elsewhere in ASEAN (Thai dispensary products especially) never transit Indonesian territory in their logistics chains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is weed legal in Bali?
No. Bali follows national law: cannabis is a Group I narcotic, possession carries 4 to 12 years, and police actively target tourists. Arrests of foreigners on capital-exposure charges continued through 2025.

What happens if I'm caught with a small amount?
Arrest, detention, and prosecution — commonly under Article 111 or 127. Rehabilitation instead of prison is possible for proven users but discretionary, and foreigners often face possession charges carrying 4-year minimums.

Does Indonesia really have the death penalty for cannabis?
Yes, for trafficking-scale offenses. Executions in recent years have involved various drugs, and prosecutors continue to seek capital sentences in smuggling cases.

Is CBD legal in Indonesia?
No. CBD is scheduled alongside cannabis, and imported CBD products are treated as narcotics at the border. Leave all cannabinoid products at home.

Is medical marijuana available in Indonesia?
No. The Constitutional Court rejected medical cannabis petitions in 2020 and again in March 2024, though it ordered the government to research medical use. No program exists as of August 2026.

Can my embassy help if I'm arrested in Bali?
Only with consular visits, lawyer lists, and family contact. It cannot secure release, and Indonesian courts routinely sentence foreign nationals to long terms.

This page is provided for informational purposes by ComplyAssistAI LLC and is not legal advice. Indonesian narcotics law is enforced aggressively and leaves meaningful discretion to police, prosecutors, and courts. Travelers and operators should verify current requirements with Indonesian counsel. Find one in our Cannabis Lawyer Directory.