Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Brazil law
Cannabis laws in Florianopolis follow Brazil’s national law. Local variations are uncommon—jurisdiction law sets the baseline for legality and penalties.
Recreational cannabis is illegal, though personal possession and home cultivation are decriminalized. Medical cannabis is available under regulation. Sale and distribution remain prohibited outside approved channels.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal (personal use decriminalized)
- Medical: Available
- Possession: Personal amounts decriminalized
- Buying/Selling: Illegal except medical
- Tourists: Same laws apply as residents
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative Background
Brazil's Supreme Court has decriminalized personal possession and private home cultivation, treating them as non-criminal acts distinct from trafficking. Medical cannabis products are regulated and available via prescription or authorized imports for patients with approved conditions, while commercial sales outside this framework remain prohibited.
Law Enforcement
The 2006 change in Brazil took criminal treatment out of the picture for users as I understood it, though possession still counted as an offence and people talked about fines. Police stops for guns and bulk drugs were a reason to be especially careful about carrying larger amounts in a car.
The three southern states felt more relaxed about weed to me. Brazil’s rules for personal possession have changed since 2006; see Marijuana Laws.
Where to Buy Marijuana
“Florianópolis is a weed city!” There’s a big surf culture and I saw people smoking all over, though downtown felt like the worst place to light up. Nobody wanted to get caught.
Surfers, artists and musicians were the people I knew who loved ganja. The beaches were good for meeting people. I heard weed was cheap in the hillside favelas, but even in the south, which felt calmer to me than parts of the north, some alleys felt dangerous. Larger dealers could be heavily armed.
Marijuana Prices
- Regular marijuana of uneven quality: around US$50 for 100 grams.
- Skunk: US$20–25 per gram.
- Hydroponic marijuana: US$30–40 per gram, described as difficult to find.
Regular weed varied in quality. Skunk was more expensive and hydro was harder still to find, mostly in wealthier circles.
Types of Marijuana
Some Brazilian weed is very good. Names I knew from the north were Manga Rosa, Racha-Coco, Cabeça de Nego and Cabrobró. I liked weed from Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul too.
In the south, a lot of the supply seemed to come from Paraguay. In my experience that was usually bad weed. Some of the hillside neighbourhoods had good local weed, but I wouldn’t wander those alleys looking for it as a visitor.
More Information
Friends of mine got caught smoking in Florianópolis and the police let them go. My friends in Rio and São Paulo had a rougher time: a trip to the station and, as they told it, pressure to pay before being released.
Enjoy Brazil’s coolest place!