Maldives
Is CBD Legal in Maldives?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
CBD is illegal in the Maldives. The Drugs Act and the Medicines Act (Law No. 20/2015) treat all cannabis-derived compounds as narcotics, and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) does not register CBD oils, tinctures, vapes, or topicals.
Travelers should not bring CBD products to resort transfers in Malé or Hulhumalé; customs treats labeled hemp-CBD identically to cannabis oil, and a positive K-9 alert routinely leads to detention. Even isolate or zero-THC products are seized because the MFDA has not gazetted a THC threshold equivalent to the U.S. 0.3 percent line. There is no compassionate-use pathway; treatment-resistant epilepsy patients are referred to overseas care in India or Singapore. Some resorts in South Ari and Baa Atoll do offer hemp-seed-oil spa products, but these are distinct from cannabinoid CBD.
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 ·
Maldives
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited
Regulator
Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA); National Drug Agency
Key regulation
Drugs Act (Law No. 17/2011); Medicines Act (Law No. 20/2015)
Effective
December 15, 2015
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
CBD imports are prohibited. Customs intercepts retail and personal-use shipments at Velána International and the Malé postal facility. No exemption exists for low-THC or isolate products.
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