Cannabis — New Zealand

Recreational cannabis is illegal in New Zealand - the 2020 legalisation referendum failed, so nothing changed. Possession or use carries up to 3 months in prison or a $500 fine, but the amount you are carrying matters far more than that figure suggests: at 28 g of cannabis plant, 5 g of hashish or oil, or just 250 mg of THC, the law presumes you hold it for supply, and supplying hashish or oil carries up to 14 years. Medicinal cannabis is legal, but only on a New Zealand prescription. A separate offence catches drivers and hosts: New Zealand Police state that letting your premises or your motor vehicle be used by someone to make, use or carry drugs carries up to 3 years for the cannabis plant and up to 7 years for hashish or cannabis oil, so letting a passenger use or carry cannabis in a rental car or campervan is a far heavier offence than holding it yourself. Police may search you, your bag or your vehicle on reasonable grounds, and smelling cannabis on you is given as an example of such grounds.

Possession or use: up to 3 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $500, or both (Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, s. 7(2)). Dealing, which includes importing and supplying: up to 14 years for a Class B cannabis preparation such as hashish or cannabis oil, and up to 8 years for the Class C cannabis plant (s. 6(2)). Cultivation of a prohibited plant: up to 7 years (s. 9(2)), or on summary conviction up to 2 years' imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine. Letting your premises or motor vehicle be used by someone to make, use or carry drugs: up to 3 years where the drug is Class C (the cannabis plant) and up to 7 years where it is Class B (hashish or cannabis oil). Possession of instruments for taking drugs, such as a pipe or bong: up to 1 year and/or a $500 fine. Possession of the seed or fruit of a prohibited plant: up to 1 year and/or a $500 fine. The maximum penalties in these last three entries are as published by New Zealand Police.

Verified Sep 8, 2026