Is Marijuana Legal in Uganda?

Marijuana is legal in Uganda for medicinal production and exports and illegal for recreational and medicinal use.

The Ugandan government established guidelines for export, cultivation, and prescriptions for the cannabis plant in 2015.

Like many other African countries and nations worldwide, marijuana legalization in Uganda appears to be happening in phases.

Unfortunately, Uganda’s medical marijuana legalization prevents patients from accessing cannabis as a tool for treatment.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Uganda

With the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 2015 issuance, the Ugandan government created a framework for medical marijuana legalization in the country.

The Act outlines stipulations for medical cannabis production and cultivation, plant exports, and prescriptions by medical professionals.

Unfortunately, there are no indications of any conditions that could actually be prescribed to treat with medical marijuana, meaning patients cannot access medical cannabis.

The Act also outlines penalties for illegal drug trafficking or possession of psychoactive plants.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Uganda

It is a remarkable sign of progress that the Ugandan government has made the important step of legalizing medical cannabis production nationwide.

Any legal cannabis industry is a step in the right direction, even if retail sales and prescriptions are not yet available.

At the same time, the Control Act, which legalized cannabis production for medical purposes, is a complicated document with somewhat expansive implications.

To truly understand medical marijuana policy in Uganda, you must understand certain sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.

Prescriptions Are Strict

We know that medical marijuana is not right for everyone, but we also know that using cannabis for medicinal purposes can have transformative, life-changing effects.

Medical marijuana was technically legalized in 2015, but the language of the issuance doing so stops short of indicating what medical conditions may qualify a patient for a medical marijuana prescription.

Instead, the Act indicates that medical professionals can only prescribe cannabis (or any narcotic or psychotropic drug) when it is required for treatment.

This may sound reasonable and may even be a useful regulation in practice, but in effect, this means that medical marijuana is essentially only legal for production and export, leaving patients in the dark.

Criminal Penalties Are Still Harsh

In addition to legalizing medical cannabis production, the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act does reinforce harsh penalties for drug use and possession.

Additional research suggests that the Act furthers the Ugandan government’s criminalization of drug use, which the same study argues to have been excessively punitive.

In other words, even though Uganda has made significant progress regarding marijuana legalization, you must consider the current laws carefully to avoid extreme penalties.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Uganda?

No, you cannot grow cannabis in Uganda. Despite legalizing medical marijuana production in 2015, only one company had been granted permission to start cannabis cultivation as of 2022.

The Bottom Line

Uganda’s progress should be celebrated, but cannabis users should not take this progress as evidence of lax law enforcement.

Engaging in any sort of illegal behavior with drugs and seemingly possessing any cannabis products can result in harsh penalties in Uganda.