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Cannabis and hemp laws
Lesotho
Recreational cannabis illegal, medical legal; CBD and hemp legal
Adult use
Illegal
Medical
Legal
Last reviewed
May 29, 2026
Lesotho
Cannabinoid status board
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Lesotho
Latest news and analysis
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FAQ
Common questions
Is marijuana legal in Lesotho?
Recreational marijuana is illegal in Lesotho. The Drugs of Abuse Act 2008 (Act No. 18 of 2008) classifies cannabis as a prohibited drug under Schedule I.
Is CBD legal in Lesotho?
CBD is legal in Lesotho as a regulated pharmaceutical and export commodity. In 2017, Lesotho became the first African country to issue licences for the cultivation, processing, and supply of cannabis for medicinal purposes under the Drugs of Abuse (Cannabis) Regulations 2018, made under the Drugs of Abuse Act 2008.
Is hemp legal in Lesotho?
Industrial hemp is legal in Lesotho as a licensed activity under the Drugs of Abuse (Cannabis) Regulations 2018. The Ministry of Health, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, may issue cultivation licences for cannabis intended for medicinal, scientific, or industrial purposes.
Can you travel to Lesotho with cannabis or CBD?
Import and export of recreational cannabis are prohibited. Export of licensed CBD ingredients and finished pharmaceutical preparations is permitted under Ministry of Health authorisation.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Seed Legality
Seeds permit-controlled for licensed operators only; personal purchase, possession or gifting remains illegal.
Hemp seeds
Restricted
Marijuana seeds
Restricted
Sale
Restricted
Transacting
Illegal
Gifting
Illegal
Under the Drugs of Abuse Act 2008 and the Drugs of Abuse (Cannabis) Regulations 2018, cannabis seed is a specifically permit-controlled item: licensed operators may cultivate, import, export and supply seed, and licence conditions require seed to be obtained from a registered seed supplier, with outdoor cultivation limited to sub-1%-THC strains grown from feminized seed for CBD isolate. Seed even forms part of licensed exports, making up roughly a tenth of the sector's annual export value per the Lesotho National Development Corporation. Outside this operator-licence system there is no personal-use allowance — unlicensed possession, purchase or transfer of viable seed remains a criminal offence. Lesotho has no separate agricultural hemp statute; low-THC cultivation sits inside the same medicinal licensing regime.
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This section is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Seed laws change frequently — verify current law with qualified counsel before making decisions.