Vanuatu presents cannabis enthusiasts with a striking paradox: the South Pacific nation has built a licensed framework for industrial hemp and export-focused medical cannabis, yet recreational cannabis remains illegal, with maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, kava, a legal, traditional psychoactive plant, dominates the islands’ social scene, and Port Vila has numerous nakamals (kava bars). For travelers hoping to find cannabis dispensaries in this tropical paradise, the reality requires a complete shift in expectations.
