Is cannabis legal in Tunisia?

Is cannabis legal in Tunisia? No. There is no legal cannabis in Tunisia: it is neither recreational, nor medical, nor tolerated. Locals call it "zatla," and the law governing it dates back to 1992. At Tealer420, we receive questions every year from people heading to Djerba who think a joint on the beach is no big deal. We prefer to be clear: cannabis in Tunisia can land you in prison with a firm sentence. Here is what applies as of October 12, 2026.

Law 52, the text governing zatla

Everything stems from Law no. 92-52 of May 18, 1992, on narcotics, adopted under the Ben Ali regime. Article 4 targets consumers directly: 1 to 5 years in prison and a 1,000 to 3,000 dinar fine for consumption or possession for personal use.

For 25 years, judges were not permitted to apply mitigating circumstances: a minimum of one year of firm prison time for a first offense, and at least five years for repeat offenders. By the end of 2015, 7,451 people were incarcerated under Law 52, with approximately 70% for cannabis consumption.

What the 2017 reform actually changed

On April 25, 2017, the Assembly of the Representatives of the People voted for an amendment, which became Law no. 2017-39 of May 8, 2017. Judges can now apply mitigating circumstances, suspend the sentence, or replace it with a fine. However, the 1-to-5-year range remains in the law: the mandatory minimum sentence was removed, but usage was never decriminalized. This is nothing like France, where small quantities are often handled via a fixed fine: in Tunisia, a criminal court judge always makes the final decision.

The Kef Case: 30 years for a joint

Remember this date: January 21, 2021, when the Court of First Instance of Kef sentenced three young men to 30 years in prison. Their crime? Smoking cannabis in a disused stadium locker room. The prosecutor applied the aggravating circumstance of "setting up a premises" for consumption.

The head of government at the time, Hichem Mechichi, described these sentences as excessive. But the case illustrates one thing: even after 2017, a hangout session with friends can lead to much heavier charges.

Controls, police custody, urine tests: the reality on the ground

Out of 168 cases tracked by Avocats Sans Frontières (Lawyers Without Borders), 97.62% of arrests stemmed from searches on public streets, and none of the accused had legal representation during police custody. To prove consumption, the police rely on urine tests. Human Rights Watch has denounced the use of forced testing, and refusing the test is reportedly sanctioned in ways that vary by source.

Cannabis in Tunisia: prisons remain full

In 2025, according to Minister of Justice Leila Jaffel, more than 10,000 inmates were in prison for drug-related offenses, within a prison system housing over 30,000 people that was designed for approximately 18,000.

And pressure is mounting: the Ministry of the Interior recorded 15,253 drug cases in 2025, involving 27,338 suspects, compared to about 5,000 cases in 2022. To place Tunisia in the context of the rest of the continent, take a look at our report on legal cannabis in Africa.

The 2025-2026 reform: what is the status?

Proposed Law no. 11/2025, introduced on February 25, 2025, by about fifteen deputies, has been with the General Legislation Committee since April 10, 2025. It proposes:

• for personal use: 6 months to 1 year in prison and/or a 3,000 to 10,000 dinar fine;
• a voluntary treatment procedure before any prosecution;
• stricter penalties for traffickers, including 5 years for promoting drugs on social networks.

Beware of the mirage: as of September 23, 2026, the committee was still waiting for a hearing with the Ministry of Justice, and no plenary vote has taken place. Today, Law 52, as modified in 2017, is still in effect.

Traveling to Tunisia: what the Quai d'Orsay says

In its travel advice updated on September 15, 2026, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is clear: usage and possession, even for personal consumption, are "very severely punished," with up to 20 years for importation for trafficking purposes.

What about CBD? No Tunisian text gives it a separate status: based on available analyses, it is treated as a cannabis derivative. Medical cannabis is not authorized. Our advice: no flower, no oil in your suitcase.

Key Takeaways

Tunisia has neither recreational nor medical cannabis, and no decriminalization. Law 52 punishes usage with 1 to 5 years in prison, which judges have only been able to soften since 2017. The reform has not been voted into law.

For your stay: nothing on you, nothing in your luggage, no purchasing on-site.

Informative article, current as of October 12, 2026. Sources: Tunisian Law no. 92-52 of May 18, 1992, regarding narcotics, Law no. 2017-39 of May 8, 2017, Proposed Law no. 11/2025 of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, Tunisian Ministry of the Interior, Avocats Sans Frontières, Human Rights Watch, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This does not constitute legal advice and legislation is subject to change. For 18+ only. Compliant with current European legislation (< 0.3% THC). The consumption of illicit cannabis remains prohibited in France.