Mauritius
Africa
#144 of 196 worldwide
#41 of 54 in Africa
Strict prohibition, but since 2022 medical cannabis can be approved by specialist committees in public hospitals.
Score breakdown ▏world average
Select a segment to show or hide the exact rules and sources.
Possession · 25%1/10adds 2.5 of 25 points
Cannabis ('gandia') is prohibited by the Dangerous Drugs Act 2000; simple possession or use carries up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to 50,000 rupees. Amendments in November 2022 allow people caught with small amounts to be referred to rehabilitation instead of being prosecuted.
Personal cultivation · 25%0/10adds 0.0 of 25 points
Cultivation is a serious offence with long prison terms; seeds are also banned.
Punishment & enforcement · 20%2/10adds 4.0 of 20 points
Still strict: prisons hold many drug offenders, which is why a 2025 proposal to depenalise cannabis was framed as a way to relieve overcrowding.
Sharing & gifting · 10%0/10adds 0.0 of 10 points
Dealing carries heavy sentences, up to decades for trafficking.
Consumption · 10%1/10adds 1.0 of 10 points
Use is an offence, with the rehabilitation route available since 2022.
Legal access · 10%1/10adds 1.0 of 10 points
No adult-use source. Authorised patients can receive medical cannabis through public hospitals.
More context not part of the score
No domestic production; medical products are imported with health-ministry authorisation.
Medical cannabis is narrowly defined: capsules, oil solutions or mouth sprays with no more than 30 mg of THC per millilitre. No flower.
Legal since the 2022 amendment, but only with individual authorisation from the Ministry of Health, for a short list of conditions.
A conviction is a criminal record affecting employment; a certificate of character is required for many jobs.
All sources
Last updated: