JurisdictionsTopicsUpdatesWorkflowsCompareChat with ExpertMarketplacePricing
🇾🇪
Cannabis — ProhibitedMENA

Yemen

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

Yemen prohibits cannabis under its Law No. 3 of 1993 on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, with significant penalties for all drug offenses. The ongoing civil conflict since 2014 has severely disrupted institutional governance and law enforcement, while qat remains the dominant psychoactive substance consumed by a majority of the population.

Ask the Expert about Yemen
Regulator
Ministry of Interior and Anti-Narcotics Department
Key Legislation
Law No. 3 of 1993 on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Year Legalized
N/A
Program Size
N/A — Prohibited

Key Facts

  • Law No. 3 of 1993 classifies cannabis as a prohibited narcotic substance, with possession penalties including imprisonment and fines, and trafficking potentially carrying the death penalty
  • Qat (Catha edulis), a mild stimulant plant, is the overwhelmingly dominant psychoactive substance in Yemen, consumed daily by an estimated 70-80% of men and 30-50% of women
  • The ongoing civil war since 2014 has effectively collapsed institutional drug enforcement in large parts of the country, with competing authorities controlling different regions
  • Cannabis (locally called 'hashish') is occasionally cultivated in remote mountainous areas, though production is minimal compared to neighboring regions
  • Yemen is a party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, though compliance monitoring has been impossible during the conflict

Key Legislation

Law No. 3 of 1993 on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

Regulatory Body

Ministry of Interior and Anti-Narcotics Department

Country Info
ISO Code
YE
Region
MENA
Tier
Tier 4 — Prohibited
Status
Cannabis — Prohibited
Sources
UNODC Yemen Country Profile
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.