Is Marijuana Legal in Honduras?

Medical marijuana and personal use marijuana are illegal in the Central American country of Honduras.

Those found guilty of cannabis possession, consumption, commerce, or trafficking may be fined or imprisoned.

However, recent statements from Honduran Vice President Salvador Nasralla suggest that the country may be open to legalizing cannabis cultivation for economic purposes in the future.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Honduras

According to Honduras’s Law Regarding the Improper Use and Illicit Trafficking of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, all the parts of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plants are illegal.

The law states that seeds, resinous extracts, products, salts, or any kind of preparation derived from cannabis are banned in the Central American nation.

Honduran law doesn’t differentiate between medical and recreational marijuana. Those found in possession of the plant may be liable to penalties regardless of their reason for use.

The law states that individuals caught with even minimal quantities of cannabis products may be imprisoned for up to 30 days and fined 500 to 1000 lempiras for a first offense (approximately $20 to $40).

Individuals identified as dependent on weed may also be forced to enter a rehabilitation facility for treatment.

Those caught a second or additional time will be imprisoned from 30 to 90 days and fined 1000 to 5000 lempiras (approximately $40 to $200).

In cases where a person is found possessing large quantities of weed (more than would be considered for immediate personal use), they may be charged with drug trafficking.

The penalties for drug trafficking in Honduras are harsh, with individuals sentenced from 15 to 20 years in prison or fined 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 lempiras (roughly $40,000 to $205,000).

What to Know about Cannabis in Honduras

Honduras has a complex relationship with cannabis. Although medical marijuana and recreational marijuana use are both illegal, marijuana is nonetheless cultivated in diverse pockets of the country.

Honduras is currently experiencing high levels of unemployment, and there’s growing awareness from politicians that cultivating cannabis may help to boost the nation’s economy and create new employment opportunities.

Legal Cannabis Cultivation May Help Unemployment in Honduras

In May 2022, Honduran Vice President Salvador Nasralla indicated that Honduras may consider creating cannabis cultivation facilities within the country to generate income and create jobs.

It’s important to note that this move would only legalize cannabis cultivation, not medical or recreational marijuana.

The motivation behind such a shift is driven by a desire to increase the country’s income and employment opportunities. There are approximately 1 million unemployed Hondurans.

Creating a legal cannabis industry may help to create a significant number of jobs: a mentality that other Latin American countries have embraced.

However, there is disagreement among Honduran politicians about using a controlled plant to generate income, as Honduras is gripped by serious social issues linked to the trafficking of narcotics.

For some politicians, intentionally cultivating cannabis could increase illegal commerce and consumption, which the country aims to reduce and eventually eradicate.

Cannabis Has Long Been Cultivated in Honduras

Although medical and recreational marijuana use are illegal in Honduras, cannabis plantations have long been established in particular pockets of the country.

Cannabis tends to be grown in the warm, tropical, temperate climates of the Northern coastal region of Honduras in places such as Colón and Yoro.

There are also illegal crops planted in regions further inland, such as Francisco Morazán and Olancho.

According to recent news reports, cannabis plantations are rising, with Honduran law enforcement destroying any crops found.

This surge in marijuana production has been tied to increased consumer demand driven by illegal gang activity.

Can You Grow Cannabis in Honduras?

Cannabis is considered a controlled narcotic plant in Honduras. Honduran law prohibits the growth of indica, sativa, or hybrid cannabis plants in any part of the country.

The law specifically states that the germination of seeds, cultivation of seedlings, harvest, or production of cannabis plants is illegal.

Those caught cultivating weed may face consequences such as the destruction and confiscation of their harvest, fines, or prison time depending on the size of the plot.

The Bottom Line

Medicinal cannabis and personal use cannabis are both illegal in Honduras.

While the Honduran Vice President has suggested the legalization of cannabis cultivation could boost the state’s economy, other politicians have expressed concern that the move would increase drug trafficking and consumption.

For now, the plant remains prohibited in the Central American country.