Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Dominican Republic law
Cannabis laws in Santo Domingo follow Dominican Republic’s national law. Local variations are uncommon—jurisdiction law sets the baseline for legality and penalties.
Cannabis is illegal for recreational and medical purposes. No exceptions or tolerance policies exist. Possession or use can lead to arrest and significant penalties.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Not available
- Possession: Illegal with risk of arrest
- Buying/Selling: Illegal
- Tourists: Face strict enforcement
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
Be discreet. The penalties in Santo Domingo struck me as steep. I heard talk about paying your way out, but “expect a WORLD of hassle if you get caught.”
Where to Buy Marijuana
Sorry, but Santo Domingo is a place where you really have to know somebody. I never saw anybody smoking on the street. A friendly bartender might know someone after you’d been in a few times.
Marijuana Prices
About RD$1,500–2,000 for an ounce, roughly US$50–65 then.
Types of Marijuana
Regular, lousy green stuff with lots of seeds and sticks. It smelled a bit like ammonia.
More Information
Plenty of people smoked, but they kept it quiet. If you’re here for a couple of days, forget it. With a week or two you might meet people in the downtown bars or better clubs. I worried about undercover cops at the clubs too.