Is CBD legal in Maldives?
- Legal status
- CBD (cannabidiol) is controlled as cannabis and among the strictest regimes — the Drugs Act (Law No. 17/2011) classifies cannabis as Schedule 1 with no CBD/cannabis distinction or THC threshold, and Customs lists narcotics as prohibited imports.
- Consequences if caught
- Possession reaches about 15 years and trafficking up to life plus fines (MVR 100,000-10,000,000) with the death penalty available; CBD is confiscated on arrival (not bonded) and can trigger prosecution.
- If prescribed or medical
- A very narrow personal-medical route for controlled drugs (registered-practitioner prescription) is not recognised for cannabis/CBD, which is prohibited outright.
- Documentation
- No documentation legalises CBD — a Schedule 1 narcotic confiscated on arrival; a foreign prescription does not permit entry.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Maldives’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 →