Suriname
Is Weed Legal in Suriname?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 29, 2026
The short answer
Recreational marijuana is illegal in the Republic of Suriname. Cannabis is a controlled substance under the Wet Verdovende Middelen (Narcotic Drugs Act) of 1998, and the Korps Politie Suriname (KPS) Narcotics Brigade enforces possession, cultivation, supply, and trafficking offenses.
Penalties under the 1998 Act include imprisonment of up to four years for possession and up to twelve years for trafficking, plus fines. Aggravated trafficking and organized supply networks can attract sentences of up to twenty years. Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport customs screens passengers from Amsterdam Schiphol and Caribbean transit points. There is no medical cannabis framework, and Maroon and Indigenous traditional uses are not formally recognized under the narcotics statute.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Key facts ·
Suriname
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Prohibited
Regulator
Korps Politie Suriname Narcotics Brigade; Ministry of Justice and Police
Key regulation
Wet Verdovende Middelen (Narcotic Drugs Act) 1998
Effective
January 1, 1998
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Illegal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import and export of cannabis are prohibited. Suriname Customs screens parcels and passengers at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, the Nieuwe Haven port in Paramaribo, and the South Drain crossing to Guyana. Trafficking quantities trigger long custodial sentences under the 1998 Narcotic Drugs Act.
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