Is Marijuana Legal in Mali?

Cannabis is illegal for medical purposes or recreational use in Mali. According to Mali law, cannabis is considered an illegal narcotic.

The landlocked West African country has made decisive moves in recent years to stamp out the trafficking of cannabis and other illegal substances. Individuals who are caught cultivating, manufacturing, selling, or distributing marijuana or marijuana products in Mali may suffer severe penalties, such as imprisonment.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Mali

Cannabis is illegal for medicinal use in Mali. The West African country has been beset by political turmoil and violence in recent years due to terrorism and regime instability. Drug trafficking and transit through the country have further destabilized Mali, so the government has adopted a strong position against marijuana. There is no suggestion that medical cannabis will be legalized in Mali anytime in the near future.

Mali’s Office Central de Lutte contre les Stupéfiants, or Central Office for the War Against Drugs, is responsible for enforcing Mali drug policy and intercepting cannabis before it makes its way through the country. Mali is currently receiving international assistance in its efforts to curb cannabis consumption, possession, cultivation, and trafficking.

What to Know About Cannabis in Mali

Mali’s relationship with marijuana is defined by a drug policy that is strongly anti-narcotics. The country’s law enforcement officials work hard to seize illegal weed at the borders. Mali even celebrates an international anti-narcotics day.

Weed Is Often Smuggled Through Mali

Mali has become infamous as a cannabis smuggling route in West Africa. A trafficking route that stretches from Burkina Faso through Mali is often used by smugglers moving large quantities of weed (such as hashish or weed resin) to sell in the neighboring countries of Guinea and Senegal. In 2016 Mali law enforcement officials seized 2.1 tons of cannabis, worth approximately $6 million, on its way to neighboring countries.

Trafficking is usually run by well-established networks based in the capital of Bamako. Those found guilty of trafficking weed may be sentenced to time in prison. West Africa has become a hotspot for drug trafficking in recent years, with the entire region beset by issues related to the illegal movement of drugs. In general, Africa is one of the world’s largest producers of weed.

Mali Celebrates an Annual Anti-Drug Day

On June 26, Mali joined the international community to commemorate The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This day was created by the United Nations in 1987 to help raise awareness about the dangers and problems associated with illicit recreational use and trafficking. Other African countries, such as South Africa, also commemorate this day.

In 2022, Malian people commemorated June 26th with a high-profile basketball match and a mass incineration of drugs that had been seized by the Central Office for the War against Drugs. The incineration included more than 32 tons of cannabis and more than 8 tons of hashish.

CBD Is Likely Banned

There is little information available on whether hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) are legal in Mali. But, as cannabis is strictly controlled in Mali, and there does not seem to be any law differentiating between psychoactive cannabis and hemp, it would be wise to assume that hemp-derived CBD is illegal in Mali, even if it contains no THC.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Mali?

Cannabis cultivation is illegal according to Mali marijuana law. However, the cannabis plant is grown illicitly in the West African nation, particularly in the more tropical southern regions, due to the favorable growing conditions.

Places where the cannabis plant is most commonly grown in Mali include Kadiolo, Yanfolila, Kolondièba, and the Bougouni circles of the Sikasso region, as these regions experience a wetter climate than the dry, desert areas of the north. Cannabis sativa grows well there as it thrives in warm, moist conditions. Marijuana farmers in Mali confess that they cultivate the plant as it yields more money than rice, a common crop.

Some of Mali’s illicit cannabis cultivation is used to supply the domestic market for recreational purposes as cannabis use is on the rise, particularly in Bamako. However, most of Mali’s weed is exported and consumed in neighboring countries such as Guinea or taken abroad.

The Bottom Line

Medical cannabis and recreational cannabis are both illegal in Mali. Mali law classifies cannabis as an illegal narcotic.

The West African country is plagued by issues linked to the trafficking of weed and other drugs, so it has adopted a strong anti-drug policy. Those who break the law may suffer severe penalties.