Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Latvia law
Cannabis laws in Riga follow Latvia’s national law. Municipal rules rarely change cannabis legality; jurisdiction law is what matters for travelers.
Recreational cannabis is illegal. Small amounts of possession are treated as an administrative offense with fines, while larger amounts can lead to criminal penalties. Medical cannabis is not available. Some hemp-derived products may be sold under separate rules, but that does not mean marijuana is legal, and legality can depend on product content and labeling.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Not available
- Possession: Small amounts decriminalized (fines); larger amounts criminal
- Buying/Selling: Illegal
- Tourists: Subject to fines or criminal charges
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products.
Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
People talked about under a gram being administrative, over a gram being treated as dealing and 30 lats, quoted as US$17, getting you out of trouble. Some thought foreigners would be asked for more. None of that establishes an actual threshold or what a police encounter will cost.
It felt rare to get searched without another reason. I still wouldn’t rely on it.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Better through a friend of a friend. In Old Riga the price and quality weren’t great. Punk-looking young people could be friendly and tell you where to look.
I was warned about skinheads who promised cheap weed, then led people away to rob or beat them. Don’t follow someone you don’t trust.
Marijuana Prices
Seven lats a gram was typical, or six to ten depending on who you knew. It cost more in Old Riga. What they called a gram might be short.
The old dollar figures conflict: seven lats was put at $4, while six to ten was put at $11–18.50. The exchange note said US$1 was about 0.54 lats.
Types of Marijuana
You were lucky to find anything other than schwag. Some days that was all there was.