Is Weed Legal in Nepal?

Cannabis is illegal in Nepal despite deep cultural and religious significance, particularly within Hindu and Shaivite traditions where charas and bhang have historical ceremonial use. The Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act 2033 (1976), enacted following Nepal's accession to the 1961 Single Convention, prohibits cultivation, sale, transport, and use of cannabis (ganja, hashish, bhang). The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Nepal Police is the principal enforcement agency, coordinating with the Department of Drug Administration on pharmaceutical aspects. Multiple bills proposing legalization, most recently in 2020, have been tabled in the Federal Parliament without passage.

Penalties scale by quantity under the 1976 Act. Possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis can attract imprisonment up to one month or a fine; possession of cannabis flower above 50 kilograms or hashish above 2 kilograms attracts imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and substantial fines in Nepalese rupees. Cultivation of cannabis plants is prohibited and prosecuted by plant count. Enforcement is uneven, with tolerance during Maha Shivaratri at temples such as Pashupatinath, but the underlying statute applies year-round. No medical cannabis pathway has been authorized through the Department of Drug Administration.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.