JurisdictionsTopicsUpdatesWorkflowsCompareChat with ExpertMarketplacePricing
🇰🇵
Cannabis — ProhibitedAsia-Pacific

North Korea

Medical cannabis is prohibited in North Korea. Severe criminal penalties may apply for possession, use, or trafficking.

North Korea's legal status regarding cannabis remains ambiguous and difficult to verify due to the country's extreme isolation. While the DPRK's Criminal Code and public health regulations formally prohibit narcotic substances, anecdotal reports from defectors and visitors have suggested cannabis may grow wild and is not consistently enforced against, though reliable legal sources are virtually nonexistent.

Ask the Expert about North Korea
Regulator
Ministry of People's Security
Key Legislation
DPRK Criminal Code, Chapter on Drug Offenses
Year Legalized
N/A
Program Size
N/A — Prohibited

Key Facts

  • North Korea's drug laws are codified in the DPRK Criminal Code, which prohibits narcotic substances, though the specific classification and enforcement status of cannabis is unclear due to lack of transparency
  • Anecdotal reports from travelers and defectors have claimed cannabis-like plants grow openly in parts of the country, but these accounts cannot be independently verified
  • The Ministry of People's Security is the primary law enforcement body responsible for drug-related offenses, operating with broad extrajudicial authority
  • North Korea is a party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which obligates signatories to control cannabis, though compliance is unverifiable
  • No formal medical cannabis program exists, and the country's pharmaceutical sector relies primarily on traditional Korean medicine (Koryo medicine) alongside limited modern pharmaceuticals

Key Legislation

DPRK Criminal Code, Chapter on Drug Offenses (various amendments); Public Health Law of the DPRK

Regulatory Body

Ministry of People's Security (Inmin Boanseong) and the Ministry of Public Health

Country Info
ISO Code
KP
Region
Asia-Pacific
Tier
Tier 4 — Prohibited
Status
Cannabis — Prohibited
Sources
INCB — International Narcotics Control Board
Disclaimer: This information is for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Cannabis regulations change frequently. Always verify with official sources and local legal counsel before making compliance decisions.