Is Weed Legal in Peru?

Peru permits medical cannabis under Law 30681, enacted in November 2017 and implemented through Supreme Decree 005-2019-SA in February 2019. The law authorizes the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives, with DIGEMID (Direccion General de Medicamentos, Insumos y Drogas) under MINSA handling product registration, manufacturing licenses, and import authorizations. Patients must register with the National Registry of Cannabis Users to access pharmacy-dispensed products, and prescriptions require a licensed physician trained in cannabinoid therapeutics.

Recreational cannabis remains illegal, but Article 299 of the Penal Code carves out a personal-use exception: possession of up to 8 grams of cannabis or 2 grams of derivatives for immediate personal consumption carries no criminal penalty, provided the holder does not possess a second controlled substance. Cultivation, sale, and trafficking trigger Article 296, with prison terms starting at 8 years. DIRANDRO (anti-narcotics police) handles trafficking enforcement, and amounts above the personal threshold or evidence of intent to distribute remove the Article 299 protection. Self-cultivation for medical use sits in a gray zone — patient associations cultivated openly for years before the 2017 law. Public consumption is prohibited.

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