Is Marijuana Legal in Egypt?

Cannabis use and possession — whether for medical or recreational purposes — are illegal in Egypt. Egyptians caught with cannabis could face at least one year in prison or even the death penalty in drug dealing cases.

Cannabis laws in Egypt are harsh, but law enforcement rarely imposes the maximum penalties for small quantities for personal use. Marijuana consumption was once commonplace in ancient Egypt and is still part of the country’s culture today.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Egypt

Medical marijuana is illegal in Egypt despite a long history of medical and recreational cannabis use. Ancient Egyptians were some of the first to describe cannabis for medicinal purposes in the Ebers Papyrus, a medical papyrus of herbal knowledge written in 1550 BC. That text and many ancient Egyptian documents describe cannabis’s ability to treat various medical conditions, including:

• Inflammation and pain
• Sore eyes and toenails
• Hemorrhoid symptoms
• Uterine cramps
• Constipation

In the late 19th century, Egypt changed its stance, becoming one of the first countries to ban cannabis cultivation. The country’s drug policy officially changed again in the 1920s, when organizations, including the Egyptian delegation and League of Nations, requested that the herb be put on the international list of most dangerous narcotics.

In 1925, the Egyptian government signed the League of Nations Geneva International Convention on Narcotic Control, making drugs, including hashish and cannabis, illegal in the country. Production, sale, and possession of medicinal cannabis products are still unlawful in Egypt today.

Egypt’s Anti-Narcotics Law is ambiguous regarding the sale or use of cannabidiol (CBD). Although CBD products are non-psychoactive, authorities in the Arab world might still rule them illegal. “Hash” and “hemp” are the same word in Arabic, which can cause confusion surrounding legality, such as when an American faced death penalty charges for importing hemp seed oil in 2010.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Egypt

Even though cannabis is illegal, marijuana use remains popular in Egypt, especially with young people.

Recent statistics from the United Nations office suggest that 6.4% of people aged 15 to 64 use cannabis, ranking Egypt 25th in the world. And out of 500 random patients screened for narcotic drugs at a hospital in Cairo, 14% tested positive, with more than 1 in 10 having cannabis in their system.

Finally, informal hashish cafes are common in many cities and towns nationwide. Most have an “understanding” with local law enforcement, incentivizing the police to ignore their illegal activities.

Marijuana Legalization Efforts in Egypt

Medical cannabis is currently illegal, but proposals to decriminalize cannabis might open up the possibility of prescribing the medicine to patients in the future. Many people in Egypt already turn to cannabis and other illegal drugs for medical use, especially pain relief.

A study of 900 blue-collar workers around Cairo found that nine in 10 builders regularly took tramadol, an illicit synthetic painkiller, to ease pain during long shifts.

In 2018, John Talaat, an Egyptian member of parliament (MP), proposed a draft law to decriminalize cannabis entirely, not just for medical purposes. The proposal noted the potential benefits of cannabis extract for medical use and suggested that offenders receive treatment rather than a prison sentence. It received mixed reactions from other MPs, who stated that the reform would increase drug use.

Cannabis Penalties in Egypt

Narcotic drug penalties are harsh in Egypt. In 2019, the cabinet approved the death penalty for people caught dealing drugs, including cannabis.

Reports suggest Egyptian authorities are also clamping down on possession and personal use. Fearful of society being corrupted from within, the government often subjects civil servants to random drug tests.

Most reports say that law enforcement is not strict over small quantities in many parts of Egypt, with drug users often consuming cannabis openly in local cafes. The law is more stringent regarding selling or supplying cannabis.

Large quantities of cannabis for distribution can earn you a life sentence, translating to 25 years in prison. Anything over 10 kilos makes someone ineligible for a presidential pardon.

Large-scale cannabis smuggling can result in the death penalty. In 2013, the Egyptian government sentenced a UK pensioner to death for smuggling millions of dollars in cannabis into the country.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Egypt?

It is illegal to grow cannabis in Egypt. The country’s political parties take a negative view of cannabis cultivation and have focused on seizing cannabis from illegal plantations and suppliers.

Although penalties can be severe for those caught growing, cannabis cultivation is still commonplace in Egypt. The Sinai region and Upper Egypt are particularly famous for growing cannabis throughout the year, though most don’t consider it as high quality as the hashish from nearby Lebanon.

While farmers are not permitted to grow any cannabis with psychoactive properties, Egypt does have a legal industrial hemp industry for low-THC plants and uses hemp for various practical purposes.

The Bottom Line

Cannabis and medical marijuana are illegal in Egypt. Although possession can lead to imprisonment, cannabis cultivation and use remain widespread.

Authorities often tolerate small amounts, with harsher punishments for selling and distribution, including the death penalty. Calls to decriminalize cannabis give hope that the law might change, but the government has been unwilling to make any changes so far.