Is weed legal in Guam?
Yes, weed is legal in Guam. Adults 21 and older can possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower and grow up to six plants.
Medical marijuana is legal for patients with qualifying conditions.
Legislation history
The US territory passed the Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act in 2014, allowing patients with qualifying medical conditions to possess and consume cannabis. The law directed the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to create a registry to issue patient ID cards and to develop a system for producing and distributing medical marijuana on the island. The law was proposed in 2013, approved by voters in 2014, and signed by the governor in 2015.
In 2016 Bill No. 343-33 expanded the list of qualifying conditions, allowing physicians to recommend marijuana for any patient they thought could benefit from it. It also specified the amount of marijuana patients could possess, set up the Medical Cannabis Regulation Commission, mandated testing for all marijuana, and made registry cards optional for patients but required for caregivers.
In 2018 the legislature passed Public Law 34-125, allowing patients and caregivers to grow cannabis at home until dispensaries are up and running.
In 2019 Guam passed Bill 32-35, the Guam Cannabis Industry Act (Public Law 35-5), legalizing the buying, selling, consuming, and giving of cannabis for adults 21 and older. The law set up the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) to oversee and regulate cultivation, production, transportation, and retail sales on the island.
Where is it safe to purchase weed in Guam?
Adults over the age of 21 can purchase cannabis at any licensed cannabis establishment. As of February 2021, the CCB is still in the process of promulgating production and retail sales rules, which are legally required to go through a public review process hindered by pandemic quarantine restrictions. In the meantime, adults are allowed to grow six plants at home and possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams).
Guam allows medical marijuana patients or their caregivers to purchase up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of marijuana or more if their doctor recommends it. Patients can purchase from a state-licensed dispensary, though none are operational as of yet.
Where is it safe to consume cannabis?
For both adults and patients, consumption is only legal in private.
Possessing cannabis
Adults can possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of cannabis, 8 grams of concentrate, or anything with up to 800 milligrams of THC. They can also have up to three flowering plants and three immature plants and the cannabis from homegrown plants.
Patients and caregivers can possess up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) or more if the certifying doctor agrees.
Is home cultivation allowed in Guam?
Adults can grow six plants at a time, three flowering and three immature.
Qualified patients or caregivers can pay $15 to obtain a cultivation permit to grow no more than six flowering and 12 immature plants at a time.
Home cultivation must take place indoors in a locked room. It may be illegal for adults, patients, or caregivers to grow cannabis once retail operations begin.
Medical marijuana in Guam
DHHS oversees the island's medical marijuana program. The program maintains a list of all the forms available, including applications for registry cards, physician certifications, and home cultivation.
Qualifying conditions
Patients qualify for medical marijuana if they have been admitted to hospice care or have one of the following conditions:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Multiple sclerosis
- PTSD
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal cord injury or related condition that causes intractable spasticity
The list also includes any condition “for which the qualified patient's practitioner has determined that the use of medical cannabis may provide relief.”
Application process
Patients:
- Visit a licensed physician who will submit a written certification to DHHS
- Visit DHHS in person to authenticate the certificate
- Show a government-issued ID to confirm identity and residency
- Obtain department stamp on certificate
- Pay $15, if desired, to obtain a registry ID
Caregivers:
- Obtain a copy of the patient's certificate
- Fill out and turn in a registration form for each patient (maximum of five allowed)
- Pay $15 per patient
Cultivation requires a permit, which is also $15 each. The patient or caregiver must supply all of the above plus the property owner's permission to cultivate on the premises.
Caregiving
Caregivers must be residents of Guam who are at least 21 years old. They are allowed to assist up to five patients. While patient registration is voluntary, caregivers must register and carry their registration card while purchasing, cultivating, or transporting cannabis for their patients.
If a caregiver is growing plants for multiple patients, the plants must either be in the residences of the patients or caregiver, or all at one cultivation site. Caregivers can grow for up to three patients without a cultivation license or up to five with a special commercial cultivation license for $10 per patient.
Reciprocity
Guam's medical marijuana laws only apply to residents. Adults 21 and older are allowed to purchase, consume, or possess marijuana and marijuana products and paraphernalia for personal use.
Lab testing
All marijuana must be tested by a state-approved lab for:
- Active ingredients
- Cannabinoid concentration
- Contaminants
- Fertilizer and other nutrients
- Fungus
- Heavy metals
- Molds
- Pesticides
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a marijuana Rx in Guam?
The Department of Health and Human Services oversees the island's medical marijuana program. The program maintains a list of all the forms available, including applications for registry cards, physician certifications, and home cultivation. Scroll up in this article for more details about the process.
What are the medical marijuana laws in Guam?
Adults 21 and older can possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower and grow up to six plants. Medical marijuana is legal for patients with qualifying conditions.
This page was last updated February 23, 2021.