Cannabis law in Northern Territory (2026)
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
In short: Possessing, growing or supplying cannabis is an offence in the Northern Territory, but for an adult with up to 50 g of cannabis plant material or up to 2 plants police may issue an infringement notice (2 penalty units) instead of charging.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Possession for personal usePersonal use by an adult | Administrative offence [1] |
| Quantity limitsPersonal use by an adult | There is no lawful amount. For an adult, possessing up to 50 g of cannabis plant material, 10 g of resin, 10 g of seed or 1 g of oil is an infringement notice offence (amount payable: 2 penalty units); larger quantities are dealt with as ordinary offences. [1] |
| Growing at homePersonal use by an adult | Prohibited [1] |
| Sale to consumersPersonal use by an adult | Prohibited [1] |
| Use or carrying in public placesPersonal use by an adult | Prohibited [1] |
| Medical cannabisPersonal use by an adult | Legal for medical use [2] |
| VisitorsPersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Minimum agePersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Purchase limit in licensed shopsPersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Driving after cannabis usePersonal use by an adult | It is an offence to drive a motor vehicle, or to be a driving instructor in the passenger seat, while a prohibited drug is in the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a prohibited drug for which the section 29 defence does not apply. Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units or 3 months' imprisonment for a first offence; 7.5 penalty units or 6 months for a second or later offence. [3] |
Notes
- An infringement notice is available only if police reasonably believe the person is an adult; the offence can be expiated by paying the amount, otherwise it goes to court.
- Schedule 3 sets the quantities: cannabis plant material 50 g, cannabis resin 10 g, cannabis seed 10 g, cannabis oil 1 g.
- Cultivation of more than 2 plants is an ordinary offence (maximum 200 penalty units or 2 years for less than a traffickable quantity).
- Cannabis is a dangerous drug listed in Schedule 2. The maximum penalty for self-administering is 50 penalty units or 6 months' imprisonment.
- The Northern Territory applies no specific regulation to prescribing medicinal cannabis beyond the Commonwealth approval requirements and Schedule 8 rules. The page was read as an Internet Archive snapshot.
- Recreational use is prohibited, so this field does not apply and has not been given a value.
- Drugs in Part A of Schedule 1A are strictly prohibited and the defence in section 29 of the Traffic Act 1987 does not apply to them.
Sources
- Northern Territory Government (Northern Territory Legislation): Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (as in force at 1 July 2026) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
- NT Health: Therapeutic medicines containing cannabinoids (medicinal cannabis) | NT Health (Internet Archive snapshot of 26 November 2025) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
- Northern Territory Government, Legislation: Traffic Regulations 1999 (as in force at 28 May 2026); with Traffic Act 1987 (as in force at 10 February 2026) (consulted 15 October 2026) · all sources
National rules that also apply
These rules are set at national level in Australia and apply here too, alongside the rules above. All national rules for Australia
| Quantity limits | There is no single national rule. Possession, cultivation and use of cannabis are mostly governed by state and territory law, and those laws differ. (source: Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) |
|---|---|
| Medical cannabis | Legal for medical use (source: Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)) |
More rules in Northern Territory
- E-scootersUse on public roads: Hire e-scooters only (Beam) · Minimum age: 18 (hire e-scooters)
- Car speed limitsBuilt-up areas: 60 km/h (many towns 50 km/h or less) · Outside built-up areas (single carriageway): 110 km/h
- Deposit return schemes and plastic bagsNational deposit return scheme in operation: Yes, container deposit scheme · Deposit per container: 10c refund
- Minimum age for a car driving licenceMinimum age for a car licence: 16 years 6 months (provisional licence) · Earliest age to drive a car supervised: 16, with a supervisor
- Driving after drugsApproach to cannabis (THC): Prohibited drug in body is an offence · THC threshold: Any THC detected
- E-bikes and speed pedelecsLegal class: Bicycle rules
- FireworksConsumers may buy and use category F2 fireworks: Yes, on 1 July (Territory Day) only · Minimum age to buy: 18+
- Foreign driving licencesOverseas licence valid for a visitor: Yes, for up to 3 months · Overseas licence after becoming a resident: Transfer within 3 months of living in the NT
- Home educationLegal status of home education: Approval needed · Nature of the parental duty: School or approval
- Knives and pepper sprayFolding pocket knives: Offence without lawful excuse · Locking or one-handed knives: Flick, butterfly and sheath-concealed knives prohibited
- MopedsMinimum age to ride: From 16 · Licence: Class R (VM: moped only)
- Motorcycles: helmets and licencesHelmet required for the rider: Yes · Helmet required for a passenger: Yes
- Paid holidayMinimum paid leave a year (weeks): 4 weeks (5 for some shiftworkers) · Minimum paid leave as the law states it: 4 weeks a year; extra week for some shiftworkers
- Using a mobile phone while drivingHolding a phone while driving banned: Banned · Hands-free use: Hand-held banned; L/P: any phone
- Seat belts and child seatsSeat belt compulsory in front seats: Yes · Seat belt compulsory in rear seats: Yes
- Smoke alarms in homesSmoke alarm legally required in homes: Yes, all homes
- Tobacco and nicotine age limitsMinimum age to buy tobacco: 18 · Minimum age to buy e-cigarettes: 18
- Drinking age and alcohol salesMinimum age to buy beer and wine: 18 · Minimum age to buy spirits: 18
- Drink-driving limitsBlood alcohol limit for ordinary drivers: 0.05% (low range) · Lower limit for novice or young drivers: 0.00% (zero)
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.