Is Cannabis Legal in Guam? (2026) Laws, Penalties, and Travel

Adult-use cannabis is legal in Guam. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed the Guam Cannabis Industry Act (Public Law 35-5) in April 2019, making Guam one of the first U.S. territories to legalize recreational use. Licensed retail sales have not started, but the Cannabis Control Board approved Guam’s first two cultivation licenses on February 26, 2026.

Possession is legal for adults 21 and older within set limits, but cannabis cannot leave the territory by air. A.B. Won Pat International Airport falls under federal TSA jurisdiction.

Is Cannabis Legal in Guam?

Yes. Adults 21 and older may possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis flower, 8 grams of concentrate, or cannabis products containing up to 800 milligrams of THC, according to NORML’s Guam legalization summary. Home cultivation is permitted: up to six plants per residence, with no more than three mature flowering plants in an enclosed, locked space.

Guam was the first U.S. territory to legalize medical cannabis, by ballot referendum in 2014. The medical program runs alongside the adult-use framework. For broader regional context, see our guide to cannabis legalization in the South Pacific.

Medical Cannabis in Guam

The Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act, enacted in 2015 after the 2014 ballot referendum passed with 56 percent approval, established Guam’s medical patient framework. The Department of Public Health and Social Services maintains the patient registry and issues identification cards for residents with qualifying conditions.

With adult-use possession now legal under Public Law 35-5, the medical card primarily serves patients who need higher possession allowances, employment protections, or access to specific cannabis-derived therapies. Until commercial dispensaries open, both medical and adult-use possession is satisfied by home cultivation or transfers between adults 21 and older.

Recreational Cannabis in Guam

Adult-use possession, gifting, and home cultivation are legal. Retail sales have not yet started. The Cannabis Control Board, housed within the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, handles licensing, rulemaking, and enforcement. According to industry reporting, the board approved Guam’s first two cultivation licenses on February 26, 2026, with manufacturers and retailers expected to follow.

A 15 percent excise tax applies to cultivator-to-retailer transfers under the Cannabis Industry Act. Public consumption remains prohibited regardless of age or possession limit.

Cannabis Penalties in Guam

Possession outside the legal adult-use limits is prosecuted under the Guam Uniform Controlled Substances Act (9 GCA Chapter 67). Public consumption of cannabis is a civil infraction with a fine. Possession exceeding the 1-ounce flower limit, 8-gram concentrate limit, or 800 milligram THC product cap exposes the holder to controlled substance charges proportional to the quantity involved.

Distribution and unlicensed commercial sale carry the steepest penalties under the same statute, with sentencing scaled by quantity, prior offenses, and whether the activity occurred near schools or involved minors. Cultivation beyond the six-plant household limit is treated as unlicensed commercial cultivation.

Cannabis Cultivation Laws in Guam

Adults 21 and older may cultivate up to six plants per household, with no more than three mature flowering plants at any time. Plants must be grown in an enclosed, locked space not visible from public view. The cultivation allowance is per household, not per adult occupant.

Commercial cultivation requires a Cannabis Control Board license. Pacific Root LLC and Guam Real Deal LLC received the first two cultivation licenses in February 2026. Unlicensed commercial cultivation is treated as a controlled substances violation.

CBD Laws in Guam

Hemp-derived CBD with less than 0.3 percent THC is legal under the federal 2018 Farm Bill and sold in pharmacies and wellness retailers across Guam without restriction. Cannabis-derived CBD that exceeds the federal THC threshold is treated as cannabis under the Cannabis Industry Act and counts toward adult-use possession limits.

Travelers should treat hemp CBD as compliant with TSA rules, including the 3.4 ounce liquid limit for tinctures, but anything that exceeds 0.3 percent THC is subject to federal scheduling at the airport.

Cannabis Enforcement and Real-World Risk

Federal jurisdiction is the trap most visitors miss. A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) is TSA-screened federal territory. Cannabis cannot leave Guam by air, even when destined for a U.S. state where adult-use is legal. According to TSA policy summaries, screeners are not actively searching for cannabis but refer discoveries to law enforcement.

Andersen Air Force Base, Naval Base Guam, and other federal facilities apply federal law to anyone on the property. Local police generally do not stop adults carrying within the legal possession limit, but enforcement at hotels, beaches, and rentals depends on property rules. Public consumption is the most common civil violation tourists run into.

Future of Cannabis Laws in Guam

The market is moving from law to launch. With cultivation licenses now issued, manufacturers and retailers are next in the licensing queue. Industry reporting indicates the Cannabis Control Board has been clarifying rules and processing applications, though no firm public timeline for retail launch has been issued.

Federal status remains the structural ceiling. As long as cannabis is federally controlled, Guam’s airports and military facilities will keep travel and interstate commerce restricted. For 2026, Guam is a legal possession and home-grow jurisdiction with retail still in startup.