Is Weed Legal in Nepal? Cannabis Laws Explained

No, weed is not legal in Nepal. Cannabis, hashish and ganja have been illegal since the 1970s, and possessing even a small amount can lead to prison.

Nepal’s reputation among travellers dates from an era when cannabis was sold openly, and that era ended decades ago. This guide explains Nepal’s cannabis laws, the position on hash, the penalties, the new provincial cultivation law, CBD, and what visitors actually risk.

Is weed legal in Nepal for recreational use?

Recreational weed is illegal in Nepal. Cannabis is controlled under the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033, which dates from 1976 in the Gregorian calendar and remains the governing federal law. Nepal also cites that Act as the legal basis for banning the import and export of cannabis and hashish.

There is no legal market, no tolerated quantity and no personal-use exemption. Ganja is simply the local word for herbal cannabis, and calling it ganja makes no difference to its legal status.

Cannabis was legal in Nepal until the early 1970s, and that history explains why the question keeps being asked. It was criminalised in 1973, and the 1976 Act set out the penalties.

Is hash legal in Nepal?

No, hash is not legal in Nepal. Hashish, also called charas, is covered by the same 1976 Act as herbal cannabis, and making, selling, buying or possessing it is a criminal offence.

Nepali hash still carries a name among travellers, including the hand-rolled temple balls people still search for. That reputation belongs to the era before the ban. Today hashish is a prohibited drug, and a visitor offered it in Thamel or Pokhara is being offered something that can lead to arrest.

What are the penalties under Nepal weed laws?

Penalties under Nepal weed laws come from the 1976 Act, which treats use, possession, cultivation and trade in cannabis as criminal offences. Published figures for the penalties conflict, and the statute’s section text could not be verified, so the clearest guide is what foreign governments tell their travellers.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warns that if you are caught with even small amounts of marijuana in Nepal, you can go to prison for over five years. The US State Department similarly states that buying, possessing or using marijuana or hashish can result in both fines and jail time.

Penalties at a glance

Is medical marijuana legal in Nepal?

Medical marijuana is not legal in Nepal. There is no federal programme, no prescribing route and no licensed product, and recreational use remains banned under every proposal on the table.

The picture is changing, but slowly. A private member’s bill to legalise medical cannabis cultivation was registered in parliament in 2020 and did not pass. Federal budgets in 2023 and 2024 promised a feasibility study and then legal arrangements for commercial medicinal cultivation, but those were statements of intent, not changes to the law.

The most concrete step came from Gandaki Province. In July 2026 its assembly passed a law to license cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. The Province Chief returned it over a conflict with the federal Act, and the assembly passed it again in early August. It sets a 0.3% THC ceiling and a staged licensing process.

Gandaki has not legalised cannabis. No licence can be issued until provincial rules are made, recreational use stays banned, and whether a province can license cultivation under a federal narcotics Act is disputed. Treat it as a framework in waiting.

Is CBD legal in Nepal?

There is no federal position on CBD in Nepal and no national THC threshold separating hemp from cannabis. The 0.3% limit in the Gandaki law applies to licensed cultivation in one province and is not yet in force.

The practical guidance is cautious. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warns in its Nepal travel advice that CBD products may be seized and could lead to a drug possession charge. That includes skincare products and e-cigarette refills that contain CBD. Leave CBD oils, gummies and vapes at home.

Can you smoke weed in Nepal as a tourist?

No. Foreign visitors are subject to the same Act as Nepali citizens, and the FCDO’s prison warning is addressed to travellers. Smoking weed in a guesthouse, on a trek or at a rooftop bar is an offence, and availability does not mean tolerance by the courts.

Consular help has limits. An embassy can provide a list of local lawyers and contact your family, but it cannot intervene in a prosecution or secure your release.

Is weed allowed during Shivaratri in Nepal?

No, there is no legal exemption for Shivaratri. During the Maha Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, cannabis use by sadhus and pilgrims has long been reported and is widely associated with the celebration.

The legal position does not change for the festival. In 2019, police and the Pashupati Area Development Trust announced a ban on marijuana at the site, while reporters still observed open use and sale. That is tolerance in practice, not a legal carve-out, and it offers no protection to a visitor.

The bottom line on cannabis in Nepal

Weed is illegal in Nepal under the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 2033, and hash, charas and ganja are covered by the same ban. The FCDO warns that even small amounts can mean more than five years in prison.

There is no medical programme, and Gandaki Province’s 2026 cultivation law is not yet operational and does not touch recreational use. CBD has no national legal status. For visitors, the reputation is out of date, and the only safe choice is to leave cannabis alone.

Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. Cannabis laws change frequently, always verify current rules with official sources before you travel.

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