Cannabis Laws in Bolivia

If you are travelling to South America you should check out the updates on the laws of the South American country you are travelling to. In this case Bolivia, we will try to explain the consequences of cannabis possession, cannabis use, and cannabis trafficking.

We will also go over the punishments associated with cannabis, as well as the social aspect of the substance—its social prominence, how criminalized it is, different strains available, etc.

Cannabis in Bolivia

Possessing, trafficking, and using marijuana in all forms and for any reason whatsoever is illegal in Bolivia. Although a 2017 report stated that 30% of all smokers from 18 to 35 use cannabis. Even medical cannabis use is illegal in Bolivia. Socially, cannabis is widely used and police generally aren’t concerned with cannabis users, unless you are a tourist, in which case they will “try” to fine you, in dollars, to get a “mordida”. The law states that punishment may be as severe as steep monetary penalties, arrest, and/or imprisonment. Reportedly, the most frequent consequence for any drug use in Bolivia is forced in-patient rehabilitation—provided the amount seized is small and no trafficking or distributing is involved. Consequences are much steeper for trafficking.

The Quality of Cannabis in Bolivia

In Bolivia, like anywhere else, the quality of the cannabis depends on several factors, some of which are: season, source, and neighbourhood purchased in. For instance, it wouldn’t make much sense for dispensary agents to sell high quality, expensive cannabis strains in an impoverished neighbourhood where people are unlikely to have enough disposable income to afford it. On the other hand, those that can afford the higher quality strains are most likely to prefer the high-quality strains, possibly even strains grown from genetically-engineered female seeds.

 There are basically two types of Cannabis… the “porro” that is exterior, most probably of inferior quality and that is “dispensed” cheaply… and the ‘cripy’, ‘cryspy’, ‘crypa’ or ‘gourmet’ cannabis, that is hydroponically grown indoors and that is of a very high quality & sometimes very expensive and hard to find.

Cannabis future in Bolivia
There seems to be a “tsunami” in the whole of America (North, centre & South) regarding the legalization of marihuana, Bolivia has seen various protests in favour of legalization of marihuana, the last one in December 2017. One of the things that activists say is that being the number one cocaine producer, its not illegal to have or consume coca leaf, hence,  its only logical to legalize  marihuana.