Is Marijuana Legal in Mozambique?

Numerous African countries, including South Africa and Zimbabwe, have taken steps toward cannabis reform in recent years. However, Mozambique still prohibits the use, possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana, including medical use and cannabidiol (CBD) products.

Although illegal, cannabis consumption and cultivation are typical in Mozambique, especially in rural areas. Offenders can face fines and prison sentences, but sources indicate law enforcement is often lax on this issue. Mozambique is also a major transit point for cannabis trafficking in the region, with cannabis being the country’s most commonly seized illegal drug.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Mozambique

Medical marijuana is illegal in Mozambique. Additionally, the country does not have specific legislation regarding CBD, nor does it distinguish between the compound and cannabis. This fact may make CBD products illegal. As a result, Mozambique patients do not have regulated access to the plant for medical conditions, even if a CBD product contains little-to-no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Nevertheless, some sources emphasize the striking disparity in the availability of cannabis products within the country. According to Cannabis Culture magazine, Mozambique’s affluent class, including doctors and other privileged individuals, can effortlessly access high-quality processed cannabis products. In contrast, the poor face the risk of imprisonment, even for possessing tiny amounts.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Mozambique

Mozambique is a South African country with a strict drug policy against cannabis in any form, whether recreational cannabis or for medical purposes. Using, growing marijuana, and possessing it are strictly prohibited. The country restricts recreational use to such an extreme that Mozambique authorities pulled an energy drink because it had a weed leaf on the label, even though it reportedly didn’t contain any cannabis.

On the other hand, some proponents argue it could boost the country’s economy, create jobs, and reduce drug-related crime. One of the most outspoken advocates for cannabis in the country was Carlos Cardoso, a respected journalist who fought for social change. He highlighted the plant’s multiple uses, from medicinal to industrial purposes, and felt an industrial hemp market would help the economy. Unfortunately, Cardoso was assassinated in 2000.

Drug Trafficking in Mozambique

Drug trafficking is a growing problem in Mozambique. A Guardian article recently called Mozambique a “new narco state,” with drugs like cannabis and heroin imported and exported regularly.

The country serves as a transit point for cannabis and hashish smuggled into Africa from Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. Drugs destined for Europe and North America often travel through Mozambique ports such as Cabo Delgado and Nacala, then overland to neighboring South Africa.

However, a report on the cannabis market from the UN Office put Mozambique’s trafficking problem into a global perspective. The report revealed that only 0.2% of the world’s cannabis seizures occur in Mozambique. While significant, this amount was considerably less than in many other African countries. For example, Algeria and Morocco in North Africa accounted for 21%.

Cannabis Penalties in Mozambique

Mozambique’s drug policy follows the United Nations conventions signed beginning in 1931. The country’s current penal code dates back to when Mozambique was a Portuguese colony.

Mozambique’s anti-drug law states that cannabis consumption is “absolutely prohibited,” with the risk of a fine or prison sentence in place for even minor possession cases. Penalties for cannabis-related offenses vary depending on the nature and severity of the crime:

• Use or possession: Fine or up to six months in prison, even for small amounts for personal use.
• Large-scale cultivation, trafficking, or sale: Imprisonment for two years or more.

Repeat offenders and those involved in organized drug trafficking networks may face even harsher penalties. People trafficking harder drugs regularly receive 15-year minimum sentences. But Mozambique’s longest drug trafficking penalty is 30 years.

Mozambique vs. Other Countries

Cannabis is illegal throughout most of Africa, even for medicinal use. However, economic arguments for legalization are strong and increasing on the continent, strengthened by the revenues generated in legalized markets, such as the U.S. and Canada. As a result, a modest wave of changes in cannabis access has occurred in Africa in recent years.

Most countries still ban marijuana for recreational purposes, but Mozambique’s strict laws make it an outlier among neighboring South African countries that have recently passed cannabis reforms, including:

• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Malawi
• South Africa

Can You Grow Cannabis in Mozambique?

Cannabis cultivation is illegal in Mozambique, regardless of the intended use. Those caught growing marijuana can face fines or imprisonment. However, law enforcement is often lax, especially in rural areas where cannabis cultivation is widespread and seen as a traditional practice.

All of the Mozambican provinces are ideal for cultivating cannabis plants. According to Cannabis Culture, farmers often conceal their plants by growing them with other crops, such as hiding cannabis in the middle of corn crops in forest fields. They also say most police officers “understand this is a way for us to earn income.”

The Bottom Line

Cannabis is illegal in Mozambique, whether for recreational or medical use. The country maintains strict laws against cannabis use, possession, and cultivation, with possible fines and prison sentences for cannabis-related offenses. Despite being illegal, cannabis use and cultivation are widespread in Mozambique. Additionally, affluent citizens reportedly have easy access to illegal high-end products for medical use.