Marijuana is not legal in Belize. A 2017 amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act decriminalized possession of 10 grams or less when used on private premises, but buying, selling, growing, importing, and using cannabis in public all remain criminal offenses. The gap between “decriminalized” and “legal” is the whole story here, and it is where visitors get into trouble.
What the 10-Gram Rule Actually Covers
In November 2017, Belize amended the Misuse of Drugs Act to remove criminal penalties for possessing up to 10 grams of cannabis, roughly a third of an ounce, when used on private premises.1Belize Crime Observatory. Belize Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2017 Below that threshold, and in the right setting, you will not be arrested or charged.
That is the entire exception. There are no licensed dispensaries, no regulated sales, and no legal supply chain. Every purchase in Belize is a black-market transaction, and every seller is committing a crime regardless of how small the quantity.
Where You Can and Cannot Use It
“Private premises” is narrower than most visitors assume. Under the Cannabis Violation Tickets Regulations, legal use is limited to two situations: using up to 10 grams at another person’s residence with that person’s consent, or using up to 10 grams at a private sleeping accommodation for paying guests, such as a hotel or guesthouse, with the consent of the proprietor or an authorized manager.2Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize. Cap. 103 Misuse of Drugs Regulations Both scenarios require explicit permission. Smoking in a hotel room where management has not consented does not qualify.
Public consumption is illegal at any quantity. Beaches, parks, streets, bars, and restaurant patios are all off-limits, and this is the rule that catches tourists most often. Holding well under 10 grams does not protect you if you light up in public.
Educational institutions are also outside the exception. The 2017 amendment set a tiered response for cannabis on school grounds: a warning for a first offense and ticketed fines for repeat violations.1Belize Crime Observatory. Belize Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act, 2017
Penalties Once You Cross the Threshold
Above 10 grams, the decriminalization protection falls away entirely and you face criminal charges for simple possession. The exact penalty depends on circumstances and whether the case is tried summarily or on indictment, which is where enforcement discretion matters most.
At 60 grams, the law shifts further against you. Possession of more than 60 grams triggers a legal presumption that you intended to supply or traffic, and the burden moves to you to prove otherwise.3UNODC. Belize Misuse of Drugs Act, 1990
Selling and Growing
Trafficking, selling, importing, exporting, distributing, and cultivating cannabis are all serious felonies in Belize. On summary conviction, drug trafficking carries a minimum fine of BZD $25,000 (roughly USD $12,500), reaching BZD $100,000 (roughly USD $50,000), imprisonment of five to ten years, or both.3UNODC. Belize Misuse of Drugs Act, 1990 On conviction by indictment, fines run from BZD $100,000 to BZD $500,000, prison terms run from seven to fourteen years, and the court can impose both.
Public officials, police officers, military members, and members of the judiciary face mandatory minimum prison terms if convicted of trafficking or even facilitating a trafficking offense.3UNODC. Belize Misuse of Drugs Act, 1990
Cultivation sits inside this same framework. There is no home-grow allowance, not even for personal use. Any cultivation is treated as production of a controlled substance.
Crossing the Border With Cannabis
Importing any amount of cannabis through Philip Goldson International Airport or any land border is treated as importation of a controlled drug, which falls under the trafficking provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Weight does not reduce the charge. A single gram and a suitcase sit in the same legal category, and the minimum sentence starts at five years.
This applies to every form: flower, vape cartridges, edibles, oils, and concentrates. Screening is active at the airport, and travelers have been arrested over small amounts they assumed would be ignored. Exporting cannabis out of Belize carries the same trafficking penalties.
CBD is in the same category. Belize does not distinguish between THC products and CBD products for importation purposes. Leave all cannabis-derived products at home.
Medical Cannabis and Foreign Prescriptions
Belize does not have an operational medical marijuana program. As of March 2026, the country’s Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industry confirmed that Belize has not officially legalized cannabis for recreational or medicinal use. A medical cannabis card or prescription from the United States, Canada, or anywhere else carries no legal weight at the border or inside the country.
The government introduced the Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill in 2022, which would have created a Cannabis Program Identification Card system for applicants 21 or older, with a fee of BZD $50 for Belizean citizens or permanent residents and BZD $100 for non-residents.4National Assembly of Belize. Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Control and Licensing Bill 2022 The bill passed the Senate but faced organized opposition from religious groups who gathered signatures to force a public referendum, and the legislation has not taken effect. Officials have advised waiting until the law is finalized before planning around cannabis licensing.
Until then, the only operative framework is the Misuse of Drugs Act and its 2017 amendment: 10 grams or less, on qualifying private premises, with the owner’s permission.
Practical Rules for Visitors
- Do not bring cannabis into the country in any form or quantity. Importation is trafficking, and the minimum sentence is five years.
- Stay under 10 grams. The threshold is firm, and exceeding it even slightly turns a non-criminal matter into a criminal one.
- Get the property owner’s or manager’s explicit permission before using cannabis in a hotel, guesthouse, or short-term rental.2Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize. Cap. 103 Misuse of Drugs Regulations
- Never use cannabis in a public space. Beaches, streets, parks, restaurants, and bars are all prohibited regardless of quantity.
- Treat every purchase as illegal, because it is. There are no licensed sellers in Belize.
- Do not try to leave the country with cannabis. Exporting carries the same penalties as importing.