Eritrea countries/er.yaml
The government identified the Transitional Penal Code as the working law in November 2024.[@gov2024] The older code published by the Justice Ministry includes unauthorised acquisition, receipt and storage of narcotic substances among its drug offences.[@workingCode] A current cannabis-specific possession tariff has not been verified; the six-to-twelve-month tariff in the published 2015 replacement is not an established operative penalty.[@pc2015,gov2024,un2025](/history/eritrea-new-code-awaits-enforcement-2024/)
workingCode, gov2024, un2025, pc2015
The published 2015 code would distinguish personal cultivation from commercial growing, but the government and a 2025 UN report said that code was not in force.[@pc2015,gov2024,un2025](/history/eritrea-new-code-awaits-enforcement-2024/) The older narcotics provision covers unauthorised production.[@workingCode] The current cannabis-specific growing penalty and any subsidiary plant-control rules remain unverified.[@gov2024,un2025]
workingCode, gov2024, un2025, pc2015
Canadian government advice warns of prison sentences and heavy fines for possession, use and trafficking of illegal drugs in Eritrea.[@travelCanada] The published 2015 fine alternative is not evidence of the sentence available under the working transitional law.[@gov2024,un2025] Cannabis-specific sentencing practice remains unverified.[@gov2024,un2025]
The older code’s narcotics offence covers unauthorised distribution and procuring substances for another person, with more serious provisions for organised or professional trafficking.[@workingCode] The published 2015 definition that expressly includes giving and transferring drugs cannot establish the current rule while that code awaits commencement.[@pc2015,gov2024,un2025](/history/eritrea-new-code-awaits-enforcement-2024/)
workingCode, gov2024, un2025, pc2015
Canadian government advice describes illegal drug use as punishable by imprisonment and heavy fines.[@travelCanada] The older code separately covers knowingly providing premises for drug use.[@workingCode] A current cannabis-specific use offence and penalty have not been verified.[@gov2024,un2025]
travelCanada, workingCode, gov2024, un2025
No lawful recreational source is established by the reviewed materials.[@gov2024,travelCanada] The government’s account identifies the older transitional criminal law as the working system.[@gov2024](/history/eritrea-new-code-awaits-enforcement-2024/)
NoneNo licensed cannabis production was established in the reviewed materials; the older narcotics provision covers unauthorised production.[@workingCode,gov2024,un2025]
wikiworkingCode, gov2024, un2025
None.
wiki
No medical cannabis programme was established in the reviewed materials.[@workingCode,gov2024,un2025]
wikiworkingCode, gov2024, un2025
The retained sources do not establish collateral consequences beyond the penalties described above.[@workingCode,gov2024,un2025]
workingCode, gov2024, un2025
There is no established recreational supply route for visitors. Canadian government advice warns that possessing, using or trafficking illegal drugs can lead to imprisonment and heavy fines.[@travelCanada]
Wikipedia — Cannabis in Eritrea
5 unchanged
Cannabis is prohibited: the working Transitional Penal Code criminalises narcotics offences including unauthorised acquisition, supply and production, with no personal-use allowance established.[@workingCode,gov2024] Eritrea confirmed in 2024 that the published 2015 replacement code was still awaiting enforcement.(/history/eritrea-new-code-awaits-enforcement-2024/)
workingCode, gov2024
none
No industrial-hemp exception or lawful cannabis product was established in the reviewed materials.[@workingCode,gov2024,un2025]
workingCode, gov2024, un2025
grey
unclear
illegal
banned
Unauthorised production covers growing under the older narcotics provision; no seed-specific rule was verified in the reviewed materials.[@workingCode] The grey seed status records that uncertainty rather than a verified permission.[@workingCode,gov2024,un2025]
workingCode, gov2024, un2025