Is Marijuana Legal in French Guiana?

Marijuana is illegal in French Guiana for medical purposes and for personal use.

Although some progress is being made toward medical cannabis legalization in the French mainland, few official measures have been taken so far. There is hope, but right now, you cannot legally access cannabis in French Guiana.

Medical Marijuana Laws in French Guiana

While many former colonial territories have gained independence in recent decades, this has yet to be the case for French Guiana. French Guiana is governed under the French Constitution as a territory of France.

As a result, we can generally look to French laws for guidance on French Guiana’s drug policies.

Though France is finally starting to dip its toes into experimenting with legal medical marijuana, these initial steps are far from federal authorization for the general public to begin accessing cannabis for personal use.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in French Guiana

There are some positive signs in mainland France regarding medical marijuana legalization, which could be great news for residents of French Guiana.

If laws are more advanced in the future, the French government could distinguish between policies for the mainland and territories.

Right now, however, we can look at what is happening in France for signs of if and when medical cannabis could be legalized in French Guiana.

France Is Experimenting With Medical Marijuana

Although medical cannabis is not yet broadly legal in France, the government has begun research into medical marijuana, allowing a limited number of patients to use and even grow cannabis plants for medical use. Patients with extreme medical conditions can access certain cannabis products under the trial.

While this does mean that many medical patients in France have finally been able to use cannabis, this does not imply that legalization for medical use is a guarantee in the future.

It is also unclear if any patients accessing cannabis in France’s initial foray into experimentation have been in French Guiana.

Still, since we know that cannabis has so many potential health benefits, there is a reason to hope that the initial trial results will prove fruitful and could convince the French government to establish a more permanent form of medical marijuana legalization.

CBD Is Legal

It remains somewhat complicated, but (cannabidiol) CBD now appears legal in France, thanks to a 2022 court decision.

Other Signs of Progress Exist

There have been few, if any, signs that France is looking to legalize or even decriminalize recreational marijuana use. That said, there has been a notable shift in how law enforcement in the country treats cannabis possession.

Possession is still a crime, but as of 2020, police officers in France have been permitted to issue fines for cannabis possession as an alternative to prosecution.

This only applies to a limited quantity of cannabis and other drugs. In the case of marijuana possession, the maximum amount you can have on your person and only receive a fine is 50 grams.

The 50-gram limit is not the case across the board; individual jurisdictions can lower the quantity amount, should they so choose. It is not entirely clear if the alternative of a fine for possession as opposed to prosecution applies equally to French Guiana, but the news is nevertheless promising.

Can You Grow Cannabis in French Guiana?

If you are a medical patient participating in the French medical cannabis trial, it is possible, but not a guarantee, that you may be allowed to grow cannabis plants.

If you are not a participant, however, then cannabis consumption is entirely illegal, and you cannot grow cannabis at all.

The Bottom Line

Although there are signs of progress, legal cannabis is not yet a reality in French Guiana.

It is possible that people with certain qualifying conditions may be able to participate in France’s medical cannabis trial, but this is not entirely clear.

You should keep up with federal and local laws to stay as current as possible regarding the potential legal consequences of cannabis use.