Weed is not legal in Guyana. Cannabis remains a criminal substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act for recreational and medical use alike. A 2022 amendment did remove prison time for possession of 30 grams or less, substituting counseling or community service, but anything above that threshold is treated as trafficking and can carry a life sentence.
Possession of 30 Grams or Less
Small-quantity possession is still a criminal offense; what changed is the punishment. The 2021 Amendment Bill, which received presidential assent on November 15, 2022, set up a two-tier system based on weight.1Parliament of Guyana. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control (Amendment) Bill 2021 – Bill Status
- 1 to 15 grams: mandatory counseling. The counselor assigned to the case sets the duration; the law fixes no minimum or maximum.
- More than 15 grams but no more than 30 grams: community service under the Extra-Mural Work Act, lasting up to six months.
Refusing counseling or failing to complete community service exposes you to a court-imposed fine of G$250,000, roughly US$1,200 at current exchange rates.2Customs Anti Narcotic Unit. Guyana Drug and Narcotics Laws
This is not decriminalization. You are still charged with a criminal offense, you still go through the court system, and a conviction still goes on your record. The amendment removed the possibility of imprisonment for these quantities; it did not remove the offense.
Over 30 Grams: Trafficking
Cross the 30-gram line and the law changes shape. The 2022 amendment raised the trafficking threshold from 15 grams to 30 grams, so anything above that triggers a presumption of trafficking.3Department of Public Information, Guyana. Govt’s Narcotics Amendment Bill Removes Jail Time for Up to 30 Grams of Marijuana The burden shifts to you to convince the court the cannabis was for personal use.
Trafficking carries a fine of at least G$25,000 or three times the street value of the drug, whichever is greater, and a potential sentence of life imprisonment.2Customs Anti Narcotic Unit. Guyana Drug and Narcotics Laws The offense is defined broadly: importing, exporting, manufacturing, and supplying narcotics without a license all fall under the same provision as selling.
Growing, Mailing, and Related Offenses
Cultivation is illegal regardless of plant count or stated purpose. The Act draws no line between a single backyard plant and a commercial operation.
Mailing cannabis or any other narcotic through the postal service is treated as a separate offense, with a fine of up to G$25,000 and up to three years of imprisonment.2Customs Anti Narcotic Unit. Guyana Drug and Narcotics Laws
CBD, Hemp, and Medical Cannabis
Guyana has no framework for possessing, selling, or importing consumer CBD products. Even hemp-derived CBD with trace THC can lead to criminal charges under narcotics law, and anything containing THC is subject to customs seizure. CBD oils, edibles, vape cartridges, and tinctures all carry trafficking exposure if THC is detected.
The Industrial Hemp Act, passed on August 8, 2022, authorizes licensed cultivation and manufacturing of hemp with a THC concentration of 0.3% or less.4Parliament of Guyana. Industrial Hemp Act 2022 It covers licensed commercial operations, not individuals holding hemp-derived consumer products, and the Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority was still standing up its operations as of early 2025. Until the framework is fully operational and consumer products are explicitly authorized, assume any cannabis-derived product is illegal.
There is no medical cannabis program. No prescriptions, no dispensaries, no medical exemption. Production, sale, and possession of medicinal cannabis products remain illegal under the same narcotics law that governs recreational use.2Customs Anti Narcotic Unit. Guyana Drug and Narcotics Laws Lawmakers have discussed medical cannabis legislation, but nothing has been introduced as a formal bill.
Minors
The law provides no special exemptions or reduced penalties for people under 18. A minor’s case may run through the juvenile justice system, but the underlying offense and potential penalties are the same as for adults. Courts can order counseling or educational programs for minors; those measures supplement the standard penalties rather than replace them.
If You’re Visiting
The same cannabis laws apply to tourists. There is no visitor exception, and foreign nationals caught with cannabis face criminal prosecution under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act. A conviction in Guyana can also create problems for future travel, including visa applications to other countries.
Do not bring cannabis or cannabis-derived products into the country, CBD oils and edibles included. Customs inspects incoming goods, and a product that is legal where you bought it can still result in criminal charges on arrival. Even under the 30-gram threshold, you still face a criminal charge and mandatory counseling or community service, which could keep you in the country for weeks or months while the case is resolved.
Where the Law May Be Headed
The 2022 amendment was the most significant change to Guyana’s cannabis laws in decades. Removing prison time for small quantities and lifting the trafficking threshold from 15 to 30 grams signaled a shift toward treating minor possession as a public health matter.2Customs Anti Narcotic Unit. Guyana Drug and Narcotics Laws Some lawmakers have publicly advocated going further, including a regulated cannabis industry and cannabis tourism, but none of those proposals have advanced to a formal bill. For now, cannabis is illegal for recreational and medical use, and anyone in Guyana should plan accordingly.