Is Cannabis / THC legal in New Caledonia (France)?
- Legal status
- Cannabis is a controlled stupéfiant under the French Code de la santé publique as applied in New Caledonia — illegal for any use, including medical; possession, sale and cultivation are offences carrying the French penalty structure; the maximum penalty is imprisonment
- Consequences if caught
- Cannabis is a controlled stupéfiant in New Caledonia under the French Code de la santé publique, illegal for any use including medical. In New Caledonia, drugs fall under the French Code de la santé publique (narcotics provisions) as applied in the territory. Trafficking carries up to 30 years' imprisonment and a fine up to EUR 150,000 under the French penalty structure; the precise classification is left to confirmation against the current Code. The maximum penalty for a drug offence is imprisonment. This cell is sourced via the Library of Congress and the UNODC legal database (unodc.org/cld) pending a clean territory-primary statute portal.
- If prescribed or medical
- Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form.
- Documentation
- In New Caledonia, drugs fall under the French Code de la santé publique (narcotics provisions) as applied in the territory. Trafficking carries up to 30 years' imprisonment and a fine up to EUR 150,000 under the French penalty structure; the precise classification is left to confirmation against the current Code. The maximum penalty for a drug offence is imprisonment. This cell is sourced via the Library of Congress and the UNODC legal database (unodc.org/cld) pending a clean territory-primary statute portal. Cannabis is illegal for any use, including medical, under the same Code. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with New Caledonia (France)’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →