Mozambique
Is Weed Legal in Mozambique?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Mozambique. Lei N degrees 3/97 de 13 de Marco — the Lei sobre o Trafico e Consumo de Estupefacientes e Substancias Psicotropicas — criminalises cultivation, sale, transport, and consumption of cannabis (suruma). Possession penalties range from eight to twelve years' imprisonment for trafficking-level quantities; consumption can be prosecuted with shorter custodial sentences and fines.
Enforcement is led by the Policia da Republica de Mocambique (PRM) and the Servico Nacional de Investigacao Criminal (SERNIC). Cannabis cultivation is endemic in Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces despite prohibition, and INTERPOL routinely flags Mozambique as a transit hub for southern African cannabis flows. There is no medical cannabis programme; the Ministerio da Saude has not registered any cannabinoid medicine.
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 ·
Mozambique
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited
Regulator
Policia da Republica de Mocambique (PRM); SERNIC; Ministerio do Interior
Key regulation
Lei N degrees 3/97 de 13 de Marco sobre o Trafico e Consumo de Estupefacientes
Effective
March 13, 1997
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import and export of cannabis are prohibited. The Autoridade Tributaria de Mocambique customs administration screens at Maputo International Airport (MPM), Beira (BEW), and Nacala (MNC), and at land borders with South Africa (Ressano Garcia), Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania.
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