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Can Tourists Smoke Weed in Vatican City?
Can tourists smoke weed in Vatican City? No — absolutely not.
Vatican City has some of the strictest drug laws in Europe, and cannabis (including small personal amounts) is completely illegal.
Legal Status
Cannabis is illegal in all forms (possession, use, sale, trafficking).
There is no decriminalization policy like in parts of Italy.
There are no dispensaries, CBD shops, or tolerance zones.
What Happens If Someone Is Caught?
Vatican City is a tiny sovereign state with its own legal system, but:
Drug offenses can lead to arrest and prosecution under Vatican law.
In practice, serious cases may be coordinated with Italian authorities in Rome since the Vatican is surrounded by the city of Rome.
As a tourist, you could face detention, fines, and legal consequences affecting travel status.
Important to Know
Vatican City is:
A religious state governed by the Holy See.
Highly monitored with security and police presence.
Extremely small (about 44 hectares / 0.17 sq mi), so there is no privacy for illegal activity.
Even in Italy (outside the Vatican), recreational cannabis is illegal — but inside Vatican City there is zero tolerance.
Can you buy cbd products in Vatican city?
You can use CBD products in Vatican City, and people visiting the area can bring CBD into the Vatican, but you cannot reliably buy CBD products inside Vatican City itself because it has virtually no retail shops at all.
Here’s the breakdown:
Vatican City’s Situation
Vatican City is an extremely small sovereign state (about 0.2 km² / 44 acres) with very few shops or commercial outlets of any kind.
There are no known dedicated CBD shops in Vatican City itself.
Because of the small size and lack of retail infrastructure, you generally cannot go into the Vatican expecting to buy CBD products there.
If you enter Vatican City with CBD products you already have, you are unlikely to face legal trouble as long as they are lawful under Italian law and don’t contain prohibited substances.
CBD and Italian Law
Since Vatican City is entirely surrounded by Italy, its practical access is through Italy:
In Italy, CBD products legally sold must contain only trace amounts of THC (below very low legal limits set by Italian law).
Many cities in Italy — especially Rome and the surrounding area — have CBD shops and wellness stores selling CBD oils, tinctures, cosmetics, edibles, and other low-THC hemp products.
If you buy CBD in Italy under its legal framework, you can bring and use those products when visiting the Vatican.
Bottom Line
Tourists cannot legally smoke or possess weed in Vatican City.
It would be treated as a serious legal violation.
If you’re visiting, it’s best to respect local laws — especially in a sovereign religious state like Vatican City.