Lesotho
Is Hemp Legal in Lesotho?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp is legal in Lesotho as a licensed activity under the Drugs of Abuse (Cannabis) Regulations 2018. The Ministry of Health, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, may issue cultivation licences for cannabis intended for medicinal, scientific, or industrial purposes. Hemp falls within the same authorisation regime as medicinal cannabis rather than under a separate hemp statute, so cultivation outside a licence remains an offence under the Drugs of Abuse Act 2008.
Several licensed operators in the Mafeteng, Berea, and Maseru districts grow cannabis under licence for cannabinoid extraction, with limited reporting on dedicated low-THC industrial-fibre operations. Imports of finished hemp consumer goods (textiles, paper, hempseed foods) into the retail market are not standard and any commercial import generally requires permission from the relevant authorities.
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 ·
Lesotho
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Cultivation licensed by Ministry of Health; no codified low-THC industrial-hemp threshold separate from cannabis
Regulator
Ministry of Health; Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Key regulation
Drugs of Abuse Act 2008; Drugs of Abuse (Cannabis) Regulations 2018
Effective
January 1, 2018
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Hemp activities, including cultivation, fall under the 2018 Cannabis Regulations and require Ministry of Health licensing. Licensed exports of cannabis-derived ingredients reach EU and other markets; informal hemp consumer-good imports are not freely permitted.
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