Is Weed Legal in Palau?

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.

Recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in Palau. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under Palau's national narcotics law (Palau National Code Title 34), and no legalization statute has been enacted. Reports of a "Cannabis Control Act of 2024" are inaccurate: no such act appears among the Republic of Palau's published public laws, and both medical and adult-use cannabis remain prohibited as of 2026.

Possession, cultivation, and sale are criminal offenses punishable by fines and imprisonment, with sale and trafficking offenses punished most severely. A medical cannabis bill, the Compassionate Cannabis Use Act, passed a first reading in the House of Delegates in 2021 but has not become law, and President Surangel Whipps Jr. has publicly expressed reservations about legalization. Despite prohibition, cannabis use is comparatively widespread and socially tolerated — a 2012 UN World Drug Report ranked Palau among the highest adult cannabis-use rates globally — but there is no licensed market, no dispensary system, and no lawful home cultivation.

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