Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Tanzania law
Cannabis laws in Zanzibar follow Tanzania’s national law. Cannabis enforcement and penalties are governed by jurisdiction law, not city-specific rules in most cases.
Cannabis is illegal in all forms. No medical exceptions exist. Possession, cultivation, or distribution carries substantial legal risk.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Not available
- Possession: Illegal with penalties
- Buying/Selling: Illegal
- Tourists: Subject to strict laws
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products.
Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
Along the coast I didn’t see any uniformed police, and hotel security seemed mellow. In Stone Town I saw a few officers on foot, but they were few and far between.
Where to Buy Marijuana
On the beach, people selling keychains and wood carvings sometimes quietly offered ganja or hashish. They usually had nothing on them and would bike to the next village to bring it back. There was no money up front, but it was frowned on to back out once you’d agreed.
Marijuana Prices
About US$10 for five grams sold as South African. Seedy sometimes, but it did the trick in tropical paradise. Around US$20 got two grams of fresh, sticky hash I was happy with.
Types of Marijuana
The names I heard were just “ganja” and “South African.” The South African was usually better. The hash from two different guys seemed much the same.