Marijuana Laws
As recorded November 15, 2026 · not verified as current law. Northern Ireland law
Cannabis rules in Northern Ireland follow the legislation applicable there, rather than the Republic of Ireland's law.
Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug. Unauthorised possession, production and supply are illegal. Police can arrest people for possession, and the outcome depends on the circumstances and previous offences. Specialist doctors may prescribe cannabis-based medicinal products where clinically appropriate.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal.
- Medical: Cannabis-based medicinal products may be prescribed by specialist doctors.
- Possession: Unauthorised possession carries criminal penalties; a caution is not guaranteed.
- Buying/Selling: Unauthorised supply is illegal.
- Tourists: The same controlled-drug rules apply; check medicine requirements before travelling.
Practical guidance
Historical accounts of relaxed enforcement are not a legal exemption. Check the rules for prescribed medicines before carrying any cannabis-based medicine across a border.
Sources: nidirect: Drugs and crime; Northern Ireland Department of Health: cannabis-based medicinal products.
Law Enforcement
In the peace-process years, police patrols seemed less visible. Tourists rarely seemed to get stopped over drugs in these accounts. A few grams of hash might mean confiscation, a caution or a small fine. Ecstasy was treated much more seriously.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Bar Backa behind City Hall was an old lead. A man called Tom, with a bald head and long white beard, was there on weekdays from roughly 3 to 7 p.m. Street trade was said to be rare away from Bank Square beside Kelly’s Cellars. The Golden Mile from Great Victoria Street to Queen’s University was the nightlife stretch.
Marijuana Prices
- Flower: about £140 for an ounce, with no strain given.
- Moroccan hash, known as “slate” or “soap bar”: £25–30 for 7 g, a quarter-ounce.
- Ecstasy in late-night clubs: £5–15 a tablet, often white Mitsubishi-stamped “Mitzees.” The speckled ones drew more complaints.
After the 1994 ceasefires, nightlife expanded along the Golden Mile and in the Cathedral Quarter, which also developed a small, lively gay scene. Drink was the main event. Older pubs had the better atmosphere and traditional sessions: Maddens on Friday and Saturday, the John Hewitt on Wednesday and Sunday, and the Rotterdam on Monday and Tuesday. Musicians might get paid in a few pints, and visitors who played could join in.
Thirty years of the Troubles had made people cautious. The account remembered no left-luggage facilities at stations, and the newly reopened Belfast–Amsterdam link gave people hope that better hash might turn up. Local rumours about paramilitary control were more complicated than they sounded. Republican groups were said to frown on using drugs, while some loyalist groups were said to sell from flats away from the centre. Those areas felt risky enough that some visitors kept a taxi waiting. Cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamines and sometimes cocaine were mentioned.
Around 12 July, the marching season could bring protests, rioting and disruption. Some locals took their holidays then. Drink spiking was a concern, with 135 assaults cited for one unspecified year and bar staff said to be getting training. On a lighter note, an invitation for some craic usually meant meeting people and having a drink. It’s Irish for fun.