Is Marijuana Legal in Saint Martin?

Recreational use of marijuana is illegal on the island of Saint Martin.

This includes both the region of the island known as the Collectivity of Saint Martin, which is a semi-autonomous overseas collectivity of France, and the region of the island known as Sint Maarten, which is a member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its own independent nation.

Medical marijuana is also illegal in the Collectivity of Saint Martin and in the former Dutch colony of Sint Maarten.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Saint Martin

Despite sharing a presence on the island of Saint Martin, the Collectivity of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten each contain their own distinct cannabis laws. While this could create confusion for some visitors to the island, the general policy appears plainly prohibitive for both regions of the island.

As of right now, medical marijuana patients are unable to buy medicinal cannabis products for legal use on either the Collectivity of Saint Martin or Sint Maarten.

Similarly, cannabidiol (CBD) is also illegal in Saint Martin, on either side of the Caribbean island.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Saint Martin

The most important thing to know about medical cannabis in Saint Martin is, again, that you should not confuse the two different portions of the island.

While the Collectivity of Saint Martin largely adheres to French laws, and Sint Maarten bases its legal system on the Netherlands, the individual regions of the island have their own individual laws that must be followed.

To understand medical marijuana laws and policies on the island, you must take a deeper look at the Caribbean island of Saint Martin itself.

The Difference Between French Saint Martin and Sint Maarten

Saint Martin generally refers to the island as a whole, which contains two countries.

The Collectivity of Saint Martin refers to the region of the island that is an overseas collectivity of France. While it can no longer be strictly referred to as a territory, the Collectivity of Saint Martin remains a part of France.

The same can not be said of Sint Maarten. While Sint Maarten is a member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and remains interwoven with the Dutch government in several areas, Sint Maarten is technically its own autonomous nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Sint Maarten’s Progress Towards Legalization

One key reason it is important to understand the difference between the Collectivity of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten is that Sint Maarten is making notable progress towards some form of marijuana legalization.

While cannabis use of any kind is not yet legal in Sint Maarten’s portion of Saint Martin, there is momentum toward legalization.

In 2022, for example, the Sint Maarten government began to accept proposals from groups interested in working alongside the government to establish a legal cannabis industry within the nation.

While Sint Maarten is still a long way from people being able to purchase cannabis products for adult use, or even medical patients getting the opportunity to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, it is notable that Sint Maarten is at least looking at the potential benefits of such an industry.

With cannabis tourism remaining a notable part of the Netherlands’ international appeal, it is easy to see why Sint Maarten would consider getting involved in the industry.

Can You Grow Cannabis In Saint Martin?

No, you cannot grow cannabis plants on either nation on the island.

The Bottom Line

Even if Sint Maarten legalizes recreational cannabis for adult use in the coming years, visitors should be aware that this will not translate to the Collectivity of Saint Martin, which is bound more directly by French federal law.

Still, any sort of progress toward marijuana legalization should be celebrated, even if the laws have not yet changed.