Is Weed Legal in Nicaragua?

Recreational marijuana is illegal in Nicaragua. Law 735 of 2010, the Law for the Prevention, Investigation and Prosecution of Drug Trafficking and Related Crimes (Ley de Prevencion, Investigacion y Persecucion del Crimen Organizado y de la Administracion de la Justicia en Materia de Delitos Conexos al Narcotrafico), criminalizes possession, cultivation, sale, and transport of cannabis.

Possession of any amount can trigger criminal charges under Article 358, with sentences from five to fifteen years and fines from 150 to 1,000 day-fines. Trafficking carries five to fifteen years; aggravated trafficking through organized criminal groups reaches twenty-five years. The Nicaraguan National Police (Policia Nacional) and the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Publico) enforce, while the National Council to Fight Drug Trafficking (CNLCN) coordinates policy.

Courts may treat very small quantities as personal consumption, but discretion is narrow and prosecutorial practice has hardened since 2018. There is no medical exception, and political dissent makes drug arrests a common pretext for detention.

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