Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Mexico law
Cannabis laws in Puerto Vallarta follow Mexico’s national law. Cannabis enforcement and penalties are governed by jurisdiction law, not city-specific rules in most cases.
Personal possession of small amounts of cannabis is decriminalized for adults. Medical cannabis is legal with authorization. Commercial sales remain prohibited, and legal risk may still exist for larger quantities or public use.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Decriminalized (personal)
- Medical: Legal
- Possession: Decriminalized for small amounts
- Buying/Selling: Illegal
- Tourists: Same rules apply; caution advised
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative History
Mexico's Supreme Court decriminalized recreational adult use in 2021, allowing possession of up to 28 grams and personal cultivation of up to six plants. Medical cannabis has been regulated since 2017, with prescription access for patients. While progress toward a fully regulated commercial market continues, licensed retail sales remain in development as of December 2025.
Law Enforcement
My advice was to stay out of public view and keep to the hotel room. I didn’t see many cops.
A different experience: There were plenty of cops, but they weren’t in your face. Beach patrols came on foot and on four-wheelers, and possibly on horseback. Be respectful and don’t stand out.
Everybody said to steer clear of the Federales, the national police. I didn’t have trouble, but I saw officers gate off a public beach and spot-check people coming in. “I was on my way out, and if they’d been searching me, I would have been in a wee pickle.” I’d heard claims about searches without probable cause, but that wasn’t something I could judge from the beach.
Where to Buy Marijuana
I bought from a guy selling parasailing on the beach. It looked like an ounce of near-seedless, lime-green buds, and he wanted US$50. I only had a week and wanted less. He wasn’t happy about it, but split the bag and let us take half for US$25.
“I didn’t haggle over the price. I’d already been offered bags for two or three dollars that were bone dry and mostly seeds and stems. I was so happy to find nice green that I paid straight away.”
My friend and I rolled a spliff at the hotel. Just after we finished, security knocked. “Huele como marihuana aquí,” the guard said. It smelled like marijuana in the hall. We stared at him. Then he asked for Coca-Cola. More blank stares.
“I told him in Spanish that we didn’t have Coca-Cola, only Pepsi.” He paused, smiled and said goodbye. Only then did my friend twig that he was probably asking for cocaine. He could see we were blitzed and let us off with a smile. We spent the rest of the trip blissfully stoned on excellent reefer.
Yelapa felt like a better bet to me. I thought buying from a gringo would mean less risk, though it’s a hunch, not a reliable way to tell. Outside the station I saw a truckload of cops unloading. One wore a weed-leaf T-shirt, had a visible badge and gun, and carried the same kind of black backpack as the guys selling on the beach.
Marijuana Prices
200 pesos, about US$20 at the time, got me a decent amount of green sticky bud. So wet I had to dry it before I could smoke it.
“A quarter-pound, yeah, you heard right, for US$20,” or as much as US$50 for an ounce. Light green, sticky, nearly sensi, and not all that potent.
Types of Marijuana
No names. Mostly local, mostly outdoor, some indoor.
More Information
This place is really touristy. I’d go early in the season, or during the rains if you can stand the heat and humidity. That happens to be high fungus season, too. As for the smoke: smooth, lots of giggles and munchies!