Can You Use Marijuana in Antarctica?

We live in an era of rapid legalization. The United States, where many regions have supported reform, as well as some European countries, Uruguay, and Canada, have already decided to fully legalize marijuana. In other words, marijuana reforms have reached almost every region of the world except Asia, making marijuana tourism possible in certain countries.

Of course, some readers have long wondered whether it is legal to use marijuana on the only neutral continent—Antarctica. Not every tourist has the means or determination to visit the icy continent, since you can only get to Antarctica from South America, during certain months, and exclusively aboard an icebreaker. Extreme weather conditions also make it a challenging destination for most travelers.

Currently, the pioneers of marijuana tourism in Antarctica are the scientists and polar researchers who have long brought marijuana to the continent to brighten up their workdays among the ice.

What Laws Apply in Antarctica?

Although Antarctica is the only remaining territory on Earth not claimed by any country, there are still rules and laws in place on the continent, including restrictions on the use of marijuana and other psychoactive substances. However, these rules are not actively enforced, as there is no police presence in Antarctica. Technically, marijuana can be cultivated, used, and shared on the continent, as long as those around you and your fellow residents at the polar station agree.

The situation is a bit trickier for tourists, as their tour operators could report marijuana use to law enforcement upon return to South America. However, it appears that no such incidents have been reported so far.

In reality, the actions of people in Antarctica are governed less by local rules and more by the laws of their home country. As long as other station residents don’t mind marijuana use, it’s safe to say that no laws are being broken. It’s also unclear which laws apply to independent visitors (those who reach Antarctica on their own, without tour companies), but in practice, it’s nearly impossible to get to the continent without a specially equipped vessel.

Expert Opinion

“Despite the variety of jurisdictions, when visiting the continent, you should follow only the rules and obligations outlined in the contract of the group you arrived with,” explains Greg Selby, a professional marijuana cultivator working with Otis Gardens in Oregon. “It’s obvious that many teams of scientists sent by universities or government agencies are strictly limited in terms of marijuana use, but as far as I know, team members can agree among themselves about using marijuana.”

Tourists seem to be in a similar situation, considering that authorities in Argentina and Chile (the countries where all Antarctic tour companies are based) have not encountered such incidents.

In any case, with proper preparation and discretion, marijuana can be used fairly safely among the Antarctic ice.

Documented Marijuana Culture in Antarctica

The only documented evidence of marijuana culture thriving in Antarctica is a 1981 New York Times article discussing a complaint filed by New Zealand authorities to the U.S. government. The complaint was about regular shipments of marijuana buds from the McMurdo polar station—the largest research center on the continent—being sent to New Zealand. Surprisingly, U.S. authorities, who are usually strict about marijuana distribution, responded rather mildly, taking only minimal measures to combat smuggling from Antarctica.

Marijuana Use and Cultivation on the Ice

Although Mr. Selby has never visited the icy continent himself, he has long studied marijuana cultivation in polar climates and works closely with scientists who have tried using and growing marijuana at polar stations. “Before the modern era of electronic vaporizers with easily replaceable oil cartridges, those wanting to smoke weed in Antarctica had to secretly bring it in their luggage,” says Selby. “People would make pipes out of apples or borrow rolling papers from colleagues who smoked tobacco. Now, you can just pack a loaded oil vaporizer and not worry about your stash being discovered.”

Selby also noted that many researchers spending months or even years in Antarctica use marijuana not only recreationally but also for therapeutic purposes. “Mainly, people use marijuana to manage pain and improve sleep,” Selby explains. “My polar explorer friends told me that marijuana is great for relieving muscle and joint pain and fatigue after 12–16 hour workdays. Many scientists also use it as a sleep aid to adjust to sleeping during the polar day.”

Selby added that it’s entirely possible to successfully cultivate high-quality marijuana at polar stations instead of risking the import of a year’s supply of oils. “In principle, marijuana can be grown inside a greenhouse with controlled air temperature, which many stations already have. Currently, these greenhouses are used only for fruits, vegetables, and decorative plants, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, over time, polar researchers are allowed to grow a few therapeutic marijuana plants for medical use,” Selby says.

Conclusion

It’s possible that, in the future, polar researchers will be allowed to legally cultivate marijuana. For now, however, the continent without countries remains a relatively free zone for marijuana use.