Is Marijuana Legal in Curaçao?

Marijuana is illegal in Curaçao for both recreational use and medicinal purposes. Curaçao is a participating country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which has decriminalized cannabis for adult, personal use in some parts (e.g., The Netherlands).

However, cannabis is not tolerated in Curaçao. It is also worth noting that adult-use, recreational cannabis is tolerated in the Netherlands and not technically legal.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Curaçao

Since cannabis is entirely against the law in Curaçao, there is no medical marijuana program for patients to participate in. Visitors to the Dutch Caribbean island may make assumptions about the country’s cannabis laws based on Curaçao’s close ties to the Netherlands. However, Curaçao’s relationship with cannabis is unique, and its visitors should stay up to date on the country’s current cannabis laws.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Curaçao

Medical cannabis is illegal in Curaçao. Visitors to Curaçao should first understand that even though they are visiting a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, that does not mean that cannabis is tolerated similarly.

Cannabis Laws Are Not the Same as The Netherlands

To understand the specifics of Curaçao’s cannabis laws, we should first get to the heart of some misunderstandings many people have about marijuana in the Netherlands. Cannabis is allowed for personal use in the Netherlands, but recreational use is not technically legal.

Visitors to the Netherlands will find a plethora of “coffeeshops” around the country, which function somewhat similarly to a dispensary in the United States or other countries. However, visitors can often smoke or consume cannabis on the premises of the coffee shop.

While these businesses are allowed under strict regulations, cannabis sales are still not technically legal in the Netherlands. Although people can often visit Dutch coffeeshops as tourists, for now, the very topic of cannabis tourism is controversial in the Netherlands.

Curaçao’s legal system is based on systems created by the Dutch, but that does not mean there is any similarity regarding policies, cannabis or otherwise.

Possession Is Taken Seriously

Cannabis is on the same legal level as harder illegal drugs. Small amounts of cannabis on your person, like an amount as small as a joint, can lead to serious ramifications.

Even if you are a medical patient, you must leave your cannabis products at home when visiting Curaçao. As beneficial as medical cannabis can be for many conditions, it is better to take some time away from your medical marijuana by choice than to be unable to return home because you have been arrested for cannabis possession.

And as for CBD products, anecdotal information suggests CBD oil can be bought at pharmacies in Curaçao, but you should brush up on the laws before your visit to make sure. Even if you can legally buy CBD oil in Curaçao, you may want to consider leaving unused or leftover products behind before your journey home.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Curaçao?

No, growing cannabis is illegal in Curaçao. Marijuana cultivation carries criminal penalties.

The Bottom Line

Cannabis is illegal in Curaçao for recreational and medical use. All of the Dutch Caribbean islands have their own cannabis policies. Curaçao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with harsh marijuana laws compared to other countries in the kingdom.

There is no cannabis tourism in Curaçao, and you cannot legally access medical marijuana or recreational cannabis anywhere on the island, at least for now. Wherever you plan on traveling, you should keep up with the current laws to be the most up-to-date and avoid penalties.