Is Marijuana Legal in Sri Lanka?

The Sri Lanka government prohibits cannabis and takes an uncompromising position on the possession, sale, and use of the plant in any form.

However, the cannabis plant has been an important part of traditional Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years.

In light of this, Sri Lanka passed the Ayurveda Act in the 1980s, which allows Ayurvedic practitioners to sell cannabis-based medicines to their patients as long as they’re legally sourced from the country’s Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation.

Cultivation is also permitted on a minimal basis, but only the government and government-approved growers can legally raise cannabis plants.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Sri Lanka

Medical marijuana exists in a strange limbo in Sri Lanka, with regulators allowing for highly limited use due to its status as an indigenous medicine.

For thousands of years, cannabis has been an essential part of traditional Ayurvedic practices in the Indian subcontinent.

Cannabis was first banned in Sri Lanka in the 17th century during the Dutch’s colonial reign, which the British rule continued when power changed hands.

Since then, the country has maintained a tough stance on marijuana for both medical and recreational use, though there’s more recently been considerable pushback.

In 2017, despite its long-standing social and cultural stigmatization of cannabis, Sri Lanka’s government legalized cannabis cultivation and sale for medical purposes.

This legalization applied exclusively to Ayurvedic practitioners within Sri Lanka. The government also proposed and is currently evaluating processes required to establish cannabis plantations and export some products to legalized states in the United States.

However, due to pending cultivation regulations, Sri Lankan Ayurvedic doctors must rely on black market plants obtained in police raids, which get pulverized into pure cannabis powder.

These plants have usually been seized years prior and lost their potency in holding. The Ayurvedic Act proposed government-designated cultivation of cannabis to will eventually supply these practitioners with legally grown materials.

Outside of Ayurvedic medicine, however, the personal use and possession of cannabis are illegal. Medical marijuana patients must work with traditional Ayurvedic doctors to receive properly prepared cannabis medicines.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Sri Lanka

You cannot access medical or recreational cannabis in Sri Lanka. Similarly, you cannot bring it into the country.

If you’re planning a visit to the area, it is recommended that you leave your cannabis (including CBD) at home, even if you have a medical marijuana card.

Medical Cannabis Is Legal Only for Ayurvedic Practices

Sri Lanka has legalized the medical use of marijuana only for patients working with Ayurvedic doctors.

While the island nation plans to legalize and create cannabis plantations for Ayurvedic medicinal use, practitioners currently source marijuana from materials seized in police raids.

In Ayurvedic medicine, cannabis is considered to be a tamasic (inertia) drug with the ability to numb the senses.

Cannabis is used to manage digestive issues (e.g., IBS), headaches, pain (e.g., due to arthritis), and anxiety, so these could be said to be forms of “qualifying conditions.”

Recreational Cannabis is Illegal

Cannabis for recreational purposes is illegal for Sri Lankans.

The Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Act prohibits using, possessing, selling, and cultivating any part of the cannabis plant.

This includes industrial hemp or any CBD product since they are considered part of the marijuana plant.

The Sri Lankan government has strict punishments for those found with cannabis on their person.

Possessing 5 kilograms or less incurs a fine or short prison sentence, but possessing increasing amounts incur much larger fines and considerable prison sentences.

CBD Is Illegal in Sri Lanka

CBD oil is considered part of the marijuana plant and is, therefore, illegal for medical or recreational use.

The only exception is CBD oil purchased from an Ayurvedic herbal shop that the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health has licensed for use by traditional practitioners.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Sri Lanka?

The Sri Lankan government prohibits the cultivation of cannabis unless approved for Ayurvedic medical purposes and grown by state-sanctioned farmers.

Sri Lankan state officials work with local police to run regular raids on illegal crops across the country, especially in the island nation’s southern and eastern regions.

This stigmatization and pessimistic view of cannabis cultivation represent one of the challenges the government faces in figuring out how best to legally allow for medical marijuana crops and exports on a broader scale.

The Bottom Line

Despite its millennia-old status as an indigenous medicine with many potential medical benefits, cannabis is considered dangerous and illegal to use in Sri Lanka.

People must work with Ayurvedic practitioners to access cannabis-based medications.