Cannabis Laws in Saudi Arabia

Legal status

Cannabis — in all forms, including herbal cannabis, hashish, edibles, vape cartridges, and CBD products — is illegal in Saudi Arabia. There is no recreational allowance, no decriminalization threshold, and no medical cannabis program Strong evidence. The country's drug regime is governed primarily by the Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, issued by Royal Decree No. M/39 of 1426 AH (2005), which schedules cannabis (referred to in Arabic legal sources as hashish) as a prohibited narcotic ^[1][2].

Enforcement is handled by the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) under the Ministry of Interior, and prosecutions proceed under a legal system that blends statutory law with judicial discretion grounded in Sharia ^[2].

Penalties

Penalties depend on the offense category — use, possession, or trafficking — and on whether the offender is a first-time or repeat offender, citizen or foreigner.

• Personal use / possession: Imprisonment, fines, and corporal punishment (lashes) are possible. Sentences of two years or more have been reported for small-quantity possession Strong evidence^[2][3].
• Dealing / distribution: Longer prison terms, heavy fines, and lashes. Foreign nationals are typically deported after serving their sentence Strong evidence^[2].
• Trafficking and smuggling: Capital punishment is available under Saudi law for drug trafficking, and executions for drug offenses — including cannabis/hashish — have been carried out Strong evidence^[3][4]. Amnesty International and Reprieve have documented multiple executions of foreign nationals for hashish trafficking ^[3][4].

Saudi Arabia briefly observed an informal moratorium on drug-related executions, but resumed them in late 2021, and execution numbers for drug offenses rose sharply in 2022–2024 ^[3][4].

Tourists, expats, and airports

Foreign visitors are not exempt. Saudi Arabia's customs authority screens incoming luggage and shipments aggressively, and detection of cannabis products at King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah), King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh), or land borders typically results in arrest and prosecution Strong evidence^[5].

This includes products that are legal in the traveler's country of origin: CBD oil, hemp gummies, THC vape pens, and cannabis-infused cosmetics. The U.S. State Department and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office both explicitly warn travelers that drug offenses in Saudi Arabia carry severe penalties up to and including death ^[5][6].

Diplomatic intervention by home governments has historically been limited in drug cases, and consular access does not prevent prosecution under Saudi law ^[5][6].

Medical and CBD products

There is no medical cannabis framework in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulates pharmaceuticals, and no cannabis-based medicine — including products like Epidiolex or Sativex that are approved in other jurisdictions — is registered for general use in the Kingdom Strong evidence^[7].

CBD products are not legally distinguished from other cannabis derivatives in practice. Travelers should assume that any product containing cannabinoids, regardless of THC content or hemp-derived status, will be treated as a controlled substance Weak / limited^[7]. This contrasts sharply with neighboring United Arab Emirates, which in 2022 softened some personal-use penalties — Saudi Arabia has not followed suit.

Recent developments

Saudi Arabia has been undergoing broad social liberalization under Vision 2030, including reforms to entertainment, tourism, and some social codes. However, none of these reforms have touched drug policy. If anything, drug enforcement has intensified: the GDNC has publicized large hashish seizures, and the resumption of drug-related executions in 2021 reversed an earlier de facto moratorium ^[3][4].

As of mid-2024, there is no public proposal, draft law, or official statement suggesting that cannabis decriminalization or a medical program is under consideration. Reports of widespread informal hashish use exist Anecdote, but this has no bearing on legal risk.

Not legal advice

This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Saudi drug law carries some of the harshest penalties in the world, including capital punishment. If you are facing a charge, planning travel, or unsure about a specific product, consult a Saudi-licensed attorney and your home country's consulate. Laws and enforcement priorities can change; verify current status with official government sources before relying on any information here.

Last verified: June 2024.

Sources

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