Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Colombia law
Cannabis laws in Bogota follow Colombia’s national law. City-level policy rarely changes cannabis legality; jurisdiction law determines legal risk.
Recreational use is illegal, but possession of up to 20 grams and personal cultivation of up to 20 plants are decriminalized. Medical cannabis is legal through regulated channels. Exceeding personal limits can result in penalties.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Legal
- Possession: Up to 20g decriminalized
- Buying/Selling: Illegal for recreational
- Tourists: Subject to same rules
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative Background
Colombia's Constitutional Court decriminalized possession of up to 20 grams for personal use in 2012 and home cultivation of up to 20 plants in 2015, distinguishing these from trafficking offenses. Medical cannabis has been regulated since 2016, allowing licensed production and access through pharmacies for approved conditions, while recreational sales remain prohibited.
Law Enforcement
It was easy to hear confident talk about carrying up to an ounce or paying 20,000 pesos (then roughly US$10) to get out of a stop. The experience on a pedestrian bridge over a main road was different. Police searched three people at random and, finding nothing, said they might still have had marijuana. The fear of prosecution in that moment was real. The newer Marijuana Laws section lists 20 g for personal possession, below the ounce mentioned here.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Weed seemed plentiful downtown, around the National University and in the parks, including in the local Rasta scene. From a visitor’s point of view, especially an American’s, it still mattered who was watching and whether you knew the person approaching you.
Marijuana Prices
An eighth-ounce of mid-grade went for about US$1. Red Point was closer to US$3. Outside the city, a farmer once offered a potato sack that looked to hold more than five pounds of Red Point for about US$150. At that price the next question was whether he took Visa or Mastercard.
Types of Marijuana
The easy finds were the rough stuff and mids. The better names were Red Point and Colombian Gold.
More Information
A trusted local made a difference when a stranger seemed likely to rip you off or rob you. Bogotá had great clubs and was cheap enough that a visitor on a small budget could feel like a king. Colombia’s beaches and tropical forests were part of the draw too. For a visitor from New Orleans, the nightlife beat the scene back home. And then there was the herb.