Is Marijuana Legal in Seychelles?

Cannabis is strictly prohibited in Seychelles, making cultivation, possession, and sale of the substance illegal throughout the country.

Despite these regulations, cannabis has had a long-standing presence in Seychelles for centuries, and today, approximately a quarter of the population consumes marijuana.

Interestingly, reports suggest that authorities rarely enforce anti-drug laws concerning cannabis, leading to open use by many Seychellois, including public smoking.

Still, attempts to decriminalize cannabis and legalize it for recreational purposes have thus far been unsuccessful.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Seychelles

The local population in Seychelles has used the cannabis plant for centuries, often for spiritual and medical purposes, including:

• Reducing pain
• Treating anxiety and depression
• Achieving spiritual enlightenment
• Connecting with ancestral spirits

However, cannabis became widely outlawed across Africa in the early 20th century.

The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, an international treaty established by the United Nations to control narcotics, further propelled prohibition throughout the continent. Seychelles signed the treaty in 1992.

In 2016, the Seychelles government passed the Misuse of Drugs Act. This latest attempt to control use, production, and sales gave Seychelles authorities more power to fight trafficking and abuse. It also made investigating and prosecuting drug-related offenses easier.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, cannabis and its byproducts are controlled substances categorized as Class B drugs. The offenses relating to cannabis include:

• Possession, including any equipment used to smoke, consume, or administer
• Importation or exportation
• Manufacturing
• Trafficking
• Cultivation

The law also allows police officers to stop and search suspects without a warrant.

Although Seychelles drug laws oppose cannabis use, a recent effort to legalize medical marijuana has made CBD accessible to those in need.

The Seychelles News Agency reported that in June 2019, the Seychelles Constitutional Court ordered the government to allow CBD products that contain little or no THC.

The change came after an Alzheimer’s patient petitioned the court, asking the government to authorize the use of controlled drugs for medical purposes.

In response, the Seychelles government published the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabidiol-based products for medical purposes) Regulations, 2020, which the National Assembly approved.

The new regulations made cannabidiol-based products, which are not narcotics, legal for medical purposes and laid out guidelines for:

• Importing “medical cannabis” (refers to CBD products with little or no THC)
• How medical specialists could approve a patient for medicinal use
• Rules regarding accessing, storing, and administering medical cannabis (CBD products)
• Miscellaneous issues regarding medicinal cannabis (CBD products), including prohibitions placed on advertising medicinal cannabis and its related products

Unfortunately, the government has not established the qualifying medical conditions (as of June 2023). As a result, CBD products remain largely inaccessible to those seeking them as a remedy to health conditions and complications.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Seychelles

On paper, the Seychelles government supports medical CBD use. However, politicians do not feel the same way about high-THC cannabis.

One article quoted the Seychelles Ministry of Health statement from September 2022, saying, “Cannabis use was the highest cause of admission (19%) to the Psychiatric Ward in 2021” and “Cannabis remains a known risk factor for mental health problems.”

The government also maintains that cannabis is a “gateway” to harder drugs like heroin.

Marijuana Legalization Efforts in Seychelles

In recent years, numerous individuals in Seychelles have advocated for marijuana legalization.

In 2017, Ralph Volcere, a local activist and politician, spearheaded a movement called “Legalizing Cannabis in Seychelles” and started a petition to legalize recreational marijuana. The demands of the legalization effort included:

• Removing cannabis from the list of class A, B, or C drugs
• Making its use legal for those aged 21 and above, whether for medical or recreational purposes
• Implementing laws that make it illegal to drive while under the influence of the drug

Additionally, the Seychelles Kanabis Association lobbies the government to provide safe access.

Nelson Esparon, the association chairperson, says that a regulated framework for adult use would remove cannabis from the hands of criminals and eliminate the black market. Cannabis legalization proponents also point to the financial benefit of marijuana tourism.

In a public meeting, Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan said that the decision to legalize cannabis for recreational use is one that the people should make themselves through a referendum.

Cannabis Penalties in Seychelles

Personal possession, selling, and cultivating cannabis or cannabis resin in Seychelles can result in lengthy prison sentences under Section 29 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, including:

Maximum Five Years:

• Possession of pipe, syringe, utensil, apparatus, or other article intended for smoking, consumption, or administration

Maximum 10 years:

• Unauthorized possession of no more than 25 grams
• Unauthorized smoking, consuming or self-administering

Maximum 30 years:

• Cultivation

Maximum 50 years:

• Unauthorized trafficking

Life imprisonment:

• Unauthorized import or export
• Unauthorized manufacture
• Unauthorized trafficking of more than 250 grams

Can You Grow Cannabis in Seychelles?

Growing cannabis is illegal in Seychelles. According to the Misuse of Drugs Act, a person shall not cultivate outside or grow “by enhanced indoor means” a plant of the genus cannabis or any other from which a controlled drug may be extracted or prepared. The maximum penalty for cultivation is 30 years.

The Bottom Line

Cannabis has a long history in Seychelles and remains integral to the country’s culture. Although recreational cannabis use is illegal and can result in prison sentences, many people still use marijuana and openly smoke it.

In 2020, Seychelles legalized CBD-based products for medical use, but the government has yet to establish a system for patient access. There is a strong effort to legalize cannabis in Seychelles, and many hope the plant will be legal for personal use soon.