Cannabis Freedom Index
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Tonga

Oceania

Prohibition

#103 of 196 worldwide
#8 of 14 in Oceania

Recreational: IllegalMedical: None

Under 28 g carries a fine of up to T$5,000 or a year in prison; small cases usually end in fines.

Score breakdown ▏world average

Select a segment to show or hide the exact rules and sources.

Possession · 25%1/10
adds 2.5 of 25 points

Cannabis is a Class B drug under the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2003. Possession of less than 28 g carries a maximum of a T$5,000 fine or one year in prison, or both; 28 g or more carries up to T$50,000 or seven years.

Personal cultivation · 25%1/10
adds 2.5 of 25 points

Cultivation is an offence under the same Act, sentenced by number of plants.

Punishment & enforcement · 20%2/10
adds 4.0 of 20 points

Small cannabis cases generally end in fines or suspended sentences; Tonga's enforcement effort is focused on methamphetamine.

Sharing & gifting · 10%1/10
adds 1.0 of 10 points

Supply is punished more heavily. A 2020 amendment aimed at methamphetamine lowered the quantity at which possession is deemed to be supply.

Consumption · 10%1/10
adds 1.0 of 10 points

Use is an offence.

Legal access · 10%0/10
adds 0.0 of 10 points

None.

More context not part of the score

Commercial production

None.

Products

None.

Medical use

No medical cannabis.

Other consequences

A conviction is a criminal record, which matters for seasonal-work visas abroad.

All sources

  1. PacLII — Supreme Court of Tonga sentencing judgment (2021)
  2. Matangi Tonga — House passes amendment to Illicit Drugs Control Act (2020)

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