What drugs are legal in Mexico? In Mexico, criminal laws regarding drugs are strict, but there are some exceptions. While drug possession and use are generally illegal, there are certain personal-use limits, and some substances are permitted for medical or scientific purposes.
However, if you’re arrested with any of the drugs listed below, even in amounts meant for personal use ,you will still be taken to the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público) to be investigated. A prosecutor will then decide whether a crime has been committed. Before making that determination, authorities must verify the exact type and amount of the substance, a process that involves a forensic chemistry expert who identifies illicit drugs.
Drugs Whose Possession Does Not Constitute a Crime (in Small Quantities for Personal Use)
Possessing certain illegal substances in small amounts does not automatically result in criminal charges if you can prove the quantity is within the legal threshold. However, in practice, prosecutors and judges sometimes interpret simple possession as possession with intent to sell or distribute.
Due to weaknesses in the Mexican justice system and the discretion used by some prosecutors and judges, we strongly advise not using or carrying illegal substances in public places or inside your vehicle. Law enforcement and prosecutors may assume you intended to sell the drug, even if you only had it for personal use — especially if:
Accused a relative of a crime in Mexico? Do you need to know if it is a crime to bring weapons into Mexico? Do you need to know if it is a crime to bring marijuana into Mexico? The prosecutor is accusing me of having committed a crime that I did not commit? Has your loved one been in jail in Mexico for years?
If you are in one of these situations, hire an online consultation.
Do you want to avoid an arrest warrant against you in Mexico?
- The drug is divided into multiple small packages, or
- You were caught handing it over to someone else.
What drugs are legal in Mexico? Table of Drugs and Legal Limits for Personal Use
Permitted quantities under Article 479 of the General Health Law:
| Drug | Maximum Legal Amount |
| Marijuana (Cannabis) | 5 grams |
| Cocaine | 0.5 grams |
| Heroin | 50 milligrams |
| Methamphetamine | 40 milligrams |
| LSD | 0.015 milligrams |
| MDMA (Ecstasy) | 40 milligrams |
| Opium | 2 grams |
| Psilocybin mushrooms | Not specifically listed, but still illegal |
Important: Possessing amounts above these limits can lead to prison sentences ranging from 10 months to 25 years, depending on the charges filed during the investigation.
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Cannabis in Mexico
Cannabis laws in Mexico fall into a legal gray area.
Medical marijuana
Legal since 2017 with a medical prescription and authorization from COFEPRIS (Mexico’s health regulatory agency). To get this permit, you must file for amparo (similar to habeas corpus), a legal protection granted by a Mexican judge.
Recreational marijuana
- In 2012, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled the prohibition on adult use unconstitutional.
- However, no federal law has been passed to regulate its sale or general public use.
- Adults can apply for a permit through COFEPRIS to grow and consume marijuana at home (again, through an amparo).
- Commercial sales and public consumption remain illegal unless you meet the above legal requirements.
Warning: Never purchase cannabis from online stores in Mexico like Cannaland or Splift. These products are often intercepted at airports or during ground transportation by drug-sniffing dogs. Authorities may treat this as drug trafficking, not simple possession and that can lead to up to 25 years in prison.
Controlled Medications
Some substances that are illegal without a prescription in the U.S. (like benzodiazepines or opioids) are legal in Mexico with a valid prescription. However:
- Buying or carrying them without a prescription is illegal.
Bringing them across the border (into or out of Mexico) can have serious criminal consequences.
Fully Illegal Drugs
The following substances are completely prohibited in Mexico. Possessing, selling, or manufacturing them carries harsh prison sentences.
- Fentanyl
- Crack cocaine (cocaine base)
- Synthetic cannabinoids
- Large quantities of any drug
For more information about banned substances in Mexico, read our in-depth article on the subject.
The Mexican criminal process explained in English
Facing Charges in México?.
