Is weed legal in Curacao?

No. Cannabis is officially illegal under the Opium Ordinance. There is an informal tolerance approach where prosecutors may deprioritize very small personal-use quantities under about 5g, but this is not a legal right.

What are the penalties for cannabis in Curacao?

Possession can carry up to 4 years imprisonment. Trafficking carries up to 12 years. There are no coffee shops or licensed sellers despite the informal tolerance approach.

Cannabis in Curaçao: Laws & Tourist Guide

Q: Can tourists use cannabis in Curacao?

There is no legal cannabis access. In practice, tourists with very small amounts may have cannabis confiscated without charges, but this is not guaranteed. The airport enforces drug laws strictly.

Current Cannabis Laws

Curaçao occupies a gray area. Cannabis is officially illegal under the Opium Ordinance, but there’s an informal tolerance approach — the Public Prosecutor’s office has guidelines that deprioritize prosecution for very small personal-use quantities (under ~5g). Police may confiscate without pressing charges.

But this is prosecutorial discretion, not law. There are no coffee shops, no licensed sellers, and no guarantee of lenient treatment. It’s more tolerant than Aruba, but far less formalized than the Netherlands.

For Tourists

In practice, tourists with very small amounts may have cannabis confiscated without charges. But this is not guaranteed. The airport enforces drug laws strictly — never attempt to fly with cannabis.

Medical use is technically permitted under strict conditions, and commercial cultivation for medicinal export has been discussed but not yet enacted.

Current Cannabis Laws

For Tourists

Recent News & Changes