Cannabis in Saudi Arabia
The use and possession of cannabis is illegal in Saudi Arabia. Use and possession for personal use of any kind of recreational drugs is often punishable by imprisonment if caught. For Saudi citizens, there would generally be more leniency. Imprisonment for personal use of cannabis could go up to 1 to 6 months in prison with or without whippings for first time offenders. Imprisonment for drug dealing can range between 2 and 10 years in prison with whippings. Repeated dealing and or smuggling of high amounts of drugs usually result in harsher time in prison or even the death penalty, although recent executions are rare. Foreigners who use cannabis might be deported.[1]
In 2003, the UNODC rated Saudi Arabia as third globally in its measures to fight drug abuse and trafficking.[2]
Hashish in Saudi Arabia is largely trafficked by sea from Pakistan; a 2007 report notes that hashish sold for US$2,130 per kilogram.[3]
References
- US Department of State – International Travel – Saudi Arabia, Travel.state.gov, archived from the original on 2013-12-11, retrieved 2011-02-17
- Sebastian Maisel (2009). Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab States Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Arab States. Greenwood Press. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-0-313-34442-8.
- Faryal Leghari (2007). Narcotics and Human Trafficking to the GCC States. Gulf Research Center. p. 53. ISBN 978-9948-434-27-6.