Is Weed Legal in Turkey?

Recreational cannabis is illegal in Turkey. The Turkish Penal Code (Turk Ceza Kanunu, Law No. 5237) treats cannabis as a controlled narcotic alongside heroin and cocaine, and prosecutors charge offences under Articles 188 and 191. Article 188 covers manufacture, import, export, and trafficking, with prison terms starting at 20 years and rising to aggravated life imprisonment when organised crime is involved. Article 191 covers personal use and possession, carrying two to five years imprisonment, though judges can substitute a treatment-and-probation order of at least one year for first-time users.

Cultivation of cannabis for narcotic purposes is a separate offence under Article 188(3), punishable by four to twelve years in prison plus a judicial fine that can exceed 20,000 Turkish lira (TRY) calculated on a per-day basis. Carrying drugs into schools, dormitories, hospitals, or military zones is an aggravating factor that increases sentences by half. There is no decriminalised threshold for personal quantities. The Ministry of Interior and the Turkish National Police narcotics units (KOM) handle enforcement, and convictions are routinely upheld by the Court of Cassation. Public discussion of legalisation remains politically off the table. Tourists are prosecuted under the same statutes as Turkish nationals.

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