Is Weed Legal in Mozambique?
May 29, 2026
Marijuana is illegal in Mozambique under Lei 3/97. Trafficking carries 8-12 years' imprisonment. No medical cannabis programme exists.
Marijuana is illegal in Mozambique under Lei 3/97. Trafficking carries 8-12 years' imprisonment. No medical cannabis programme exists.
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.
Illegal
Policia da Republica de Mocambique (PRM); SERNIC; Ministerio do Interior
Prohibited
Lei N degrees 3/97 de 13 de Marco sobre o Trafico e Consumo de Estupefacientes
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.
