No, THCA is illegal in Turkey under the 2023 amendments to the Turkish Narcotics Law, which explicitly prohibit all tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derivatives, including THCA, regardless of source or THC content. The Ministry of Health’s 2026 enforcement guidelines classify THCA as a controlled substance, aligning with Turkey’s zero-tolerance policy on cannabis-derived compounds. Possession, distribution, or cultivation risks penalties under Article 191 of the Turkish Penal Code, including imprisonment up to 2 years.
Key Regulations for THCA in Turkey
- Narcotics Law (Law No. 1918, amended 2023): THCA is listed as a prohibited cannabinoid, irrespective of its non-psychoactive precursor status.
- Ministry of Health Circular (2026): Enforces strict controls on THCA-containing products, including hemp-derived materials, under pharmaceutical regulations.
- Customs Enforcement: Border authorities seize THCA shipments, treating them as narcotic contraband under the Turkish General Directorate of Security’s 2025 directives.
Turkey’s alignment with international drug control treaties (e.g., 1961 Single Convention) further restricts THCA, with no exceptions for industrial hemp or CBD products exceeding trace THC thresholds. Legal ambiguity persists only for synthetic THCA analogs not explicitly named in legislation, but regulatory agencies interpret such compounds as controlled substances by default.