Is Hemp Legal in Iraq?
May 29, 2026
Industrial hemp is illegal in Iraq. No legal distinction from cannabis under Federal Law No. 50 of 2017. Cultivation triggers 5-15 years.
Industrial hemp is illegal in Iraq. No legal distinction from cannabis under Federal Law No. 50 of 2017. Cultivation triggers 5-15 years.
Industrial hemp is illegal in Iraq. Federal Law No. 50 of 2017 does not separate hemp from cannabis based on THC content, and the Ministry of Agriculture has not licensed any commercial hemp cultivation in either federal Iraq or the Kurdistan Region.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources oversees crop authorization and has no hemp cultivar approval as of 2026. Iraqi farmers occasionally encountered wild Cannabis sativa in northern provinces, but cultivation — even for fiber or seed — triggers the same penalties as marijuana production: 5 to 15 years imprisonment. The Iraq Drug Control Strategy 2018-2022 explicitly excluded hemp from agricultural diversification plans. Imported hemp seed for animal feed or human food consumption is blocked at customs.
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 and Water Resources; Anti-Narcotics Directorate
Prohibited (no hemp definition)
Federal Law No. 50 of 2017
Hemp seeds, fiber, hurd, and finished hemp goods are blocked at all Iraqi border crossings. The Anti-Narcotics Directorate treats hemp materials as cannabis derivatives.
