American Samoa cannabis history
Reviewed
Except as authorized by the director, possession of a controlled substance is a felony. The penalties are mandatory, and there is no parole. A first offense is a fine of $5,000 to $20,000, or 5 to 10 years, or both. Section 13.1006 lists marijuana among hallucinogenic controlled substances.
This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the American Samoa cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.
At a glance
1974The hallucinogen section’s history line is 1974, P.L. 13-56.
1984The possession section’s note says the 1984 amendment upgraded the violation from a misdemeanor to a felony. The history line also lists a 1998 amendment.
The code sections
- The annotated code published by the American Samoa Bar Association is the text quoted here. No medical or adult-use exception was on the possession section.
- The published penalty says there shall be no parole for a conviction under the section.
Sources
Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.