Is Weed Legal in Peru?

Last reviewed: August 6, 2026.

Peru permits medical cannabis under Law 30681, enacted in November 2017, amended by Law 31312 in 2021, and implemented through the consolidated regulation approved by Supreme Decree 004-2023-SA, which replaced the original Supreme Decree 005-2019-SA. 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. Law 31312 also authorized artisanal associative cultivation by registered patient associations, and DIGEMID granted the first associative cultivation license to a patient association in February 2025. 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.