Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Taiwan law
Cannabis laws in Taipei follow Taiwan’s national law. For travelers, the jurisdiction’s law is the controlling standard—cities usually don’t define cannabis legality.
Cannabis is illegal for recreational and medical purposes. No medical program is available. Possession or use can result in significant penalties.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Not available
- Possession: Illegal with penalties
- Buying/Selling: Illegal
- Tourists: Face the same legal risks
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products.
Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
Don’t smoke out in public. Police were everywhere and knew the look and smell of it. I took the risk of jail seriously.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Weed didn’t seem popular among Taiwanese people, and I didn’t see street dealers. Expats at nightlife bars were easier to talk to. English-language papers could help you find their bars. I’d skip the sports bars.
Carnegie’s was an expat spot, hopping Thursday through Saturday with a DJ. I talked with some regulars who helped me find good hash the next day, about $50 for a nice piece. They weren’t dealers. Be patient and let the conversation get there naturally.
Woodstock was a lounge next to Roxy 99, a landmark expats knew. A session with one of its giant ice-cooled brass hookahs cost NT$500, about US$15 then, enough for a whole table. There were flavored tobacco pastes. We put some weed in one night and nobody seemed to notice or care.
Marijuana Prices
Good imported or locally grown weed could set a local back NT$10,000 for ten grams, about US$300 then. Southeast Asian imports fetched about NT$700 for ten grams, but the quality was awful.
Types of Marijuana
Usually there was only one kind to choose from, and it could be completely different in quality next time.
More Information
“Stoner’s hell.” It was ridiculously expensive, hard to find and not a comfortable place to get stoned. Just when you found a decent hookup, they might disappear a few months later.
Taiwan, UTC/GMT+8, country code +886 and Taipei area code 2.