Merch
Medical card
No, weed is not legal in Fiji. Cannabis is an illicit drug under the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004, and possession carries a statutory maximum of life imprisonment.
In practice, courts sentence by weight, and small amounts usually attract a non-custodial sentence rather than prison. This guide explains Fiji’s weed laws, how sentencing really works, the hemp and medical cannabis position, CBD, and what tourists should know.
Is weed legal in Fiji for recreational use?
Recreational weed is illegal in Fiji. Marijuana is controlled under the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004, which makes it an offence to possess, cultivate or deal in cannabis without authority. There is no legal market, no decriminalised amount and no tolerated setting.
Enforcement is real, particularly against cultivation. Police run regular operations to find and uproot marijuana farms, including monthly teams sent to the island of Kadavu, and courts handle cannabis cases routinely.
The one legal change in recent years concerns hemp, not recreational use. In 2022 Fiji removed low-THC hemp from the legal definition of cannabis, which is covered in the CBD section below.
What are the penalties under Fiji weed laws?
Penalties under Fiji weed laws look severe on paper and are graded by weight in practice. The statutory maximum and the sentence a court actually imposes are two very different things.
Under section 5 of the Act, unlawful possession of cannabis carries a fine of up to one million Fiji dollars, life imprisonment, or both.
In practice, sentencing follows a tariff set by Fiji’s Court of Appeal in 2012, which grades cases by weight and tops out far below that maximum.
Possession of under 100 grams is normally dealt with by a fine, community service, counselling or a discharge, with only the worst cases receiving a short or suspended prison term. From 100 grams upwards the tariff moves into custodial ranges, rising steeply above one kilogram and again above four kilograms. The same tariff applies to cultivation.
It is worth being precise about one widely repeated figure. UK travel advice states that possession of any amount of marijuana carries a three-month prison sentence. Fiji’s published case law applies the weight-based tariff instead, so a prison term is possible but not automatic for a small amount.
Penalties at a glance
| Conduct | Governing law | General penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Possession under 100 g | Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004 | Usually non-custodial: fine, community service or discharge |
| Possession of 100 g to 1 kg | Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004 | Imprisonment in the lower custodial range |
| Larger quantities and cultivation | Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004 | Longer prison terms, rising with weight |
| Statutory maximum for possession | Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004, s. 5 | Life imprisonment and/or a fine of up to FJD 1,000,000 |
Is medical marijuana legal in Fiji?
Medical marijuana is not legal in Fiji. There is no programme, no prescribing route and no legal access for patients.
The government has, however, moved towards a medicinal cannabis industry. Cabinet approved a policy framework in February 2024 after national consultations, working with a New Zealand development partner. The Deputy Prime Minister later stated that medicinal cannabis would be for export only and would not be available to local people.
The enabling legislation has not yet been passed. In 2025 it was still with the Solicitor-General’s office, and no report of it being tabled in parliament could be found as of this review. Until it is, growing cannabis for any purpose, including medicinal, remains an offence.
Is CBD legal in Fiji?
Fiji has no published position on CBD consumer products. What the law does address is hemp. A 2022 amendment to the Illicit Drugs Control Act excludes hemp with a THC content not exceeding 1% from the definition of cannabis.
That is a narrower change than it sounds. The amendment puts the burden of proving that a plant or product is hemp on the person claiming it. It does not address CBD products for consumer sale.
For a visitor, a CBD product could still be seized and tested, and you would have to show it qualifies. The safest course is not to bring CBD products at all.
Can you smoke weed in Fiji as a tourist?
No. Tourists are subject to the same Act as residents. Smoking weed in Fiji is an offence whether you are at a resort, on an outer island or in Suva or Nadi.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is blunt in its Fiji travel advice. It warns that possession of even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to imprisonment and a large fine. Whatever the sentencing tariff says, a visitor arrested for cannabis faces a criminal case and the risk of a conviction that affects future travel.
A Counter-Narcotics Bureau Bill to create a dedicated enforcement agency was also before parliament at the time of this review. It is worth checking whether it has passed before you travel.
The bottom line on cannabis in Fiji
Weed is illegal in Fiji under the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004, with a statutory maximum of life imprisonment for possession. In practice courts sentence by weight, and small amounts usually attract a non-custodial penalty, but prison remains possible.
Hemp at or below 1% THC has been outside the cannabis definition since 2022, while medicinal cannabis is approved as an export-only policy with no law yet in force. For tourists, the safe choice is simple: do not buy, carry or use cannabis in Fiji.
Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Cannabis laws change frequently, always verify current rules with official sources before you travel.
Sign up for bi-weekly updates, packed full of cannabis education, recipes, and tips. Your inbox will love it.
