Cannabis Legal Updates by Country
Verified, sourced legal milestones on cannabis laws around the world.
- Virginia · Jul 2, 2026Virginia approves legal retail cannabis market
Virginia's General Assembly passed legislation establishing a regulated retail market for recreational cannabis, backed by Gov. Spanberger. Legal retail sales are set to begin July 1, 2027; license applications open Feb 1, 2027. Recreational possession has been legal since 2021.
- Germany · Apr 8, 2026Germany: two years of legal cannabis, 2026 review finds stable use
Recreational cannabis has been legal in Germany since 1 April 2024 (up to 25g in public, 50g at home, 3 home-grown plants, and non-profit cannabis clubs). The government's second Ekocan evaluation (April 2026) found youth use stable or slightly lower and no major rise in cannabis-related health incidents. Separately, medical cannabis rules are being tightened, restricting telemedicine prescriptions.
- Ireland · Apr 1, 2026Ireland reviews medical cannabis access as decriminalization is debated
Recreational cannabis is illegal in Ireland. Patients with conditions such as MS or epilepsy can access products through the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP), running since 2019; a review to consider widening eligibility launched in April 2026. Ireland's Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use recommended a health-led approach and decriminalization (final report, January 2024), but no decriminalization law has yet passed.
- Switzerland · Oct 30, 2025Switzerland moves toward national legalization as city pilots show results
Switzerland's regulated cannabis pilot trials (Zurich's Züri Can, running since 2023, plus Basel and Bern) have enrolled thousands of adults and are being extended for more evidence. In February 2025 a parliamentary committee backed a preliminary bill to legalize adult use nationally; after a public consultation through December 2025, the Federal Council is expected to present the bill to Parliament in 2026, targeting regulated sales in late 2026/2027.
- Spain · Oct 7, 2025Spain regulates medical cannabis for the first time
In Spain, private personal use and cultivation are decriminalized, and non-profit cannabis social clubs operate in a legal grey area (public use is fined under the Citizen Security Law). A milestone arrived with Royal Decree 903/2025 (7 October 2025), which regulated medical cannabis use for the first time. There is still no legal recreational retail market.
- Uruguay · Sep 1, 2025Uruguay weighs letting tourists buy legal cannabis
Uruguay, the first country to legalize cannabis nationally (2013), currently lets only registered residents access it via pharmacies, cannabis clubs, or home-growing. In 2025 the regulator began designing a mechanism to let tourists and other non-residents buy legally — a major shift — though as of 2026 non-residents still cannot legally purchase. Pharmacy sales hit a record ~4,290 kg in 2025. (Date approximate.)
- Colombia · Jul 28, 2025Colombia advances medical dispensing as recreational bills keep stalling
Colombia decriminalized personal possession (up to 20g) and legalized medical cannabis under Law 1787 of 2016, but recreational sale is still illegal — legalization bills failed in 2023 and 2024, with a new attempt underway in Congress. In 2025 the Justice Ministry advanced a draft to let pharmacies dispense psychoactive medical cannabis to authorized patients.
- Czech Republic · Jul 18, 2025Czech Republic legalizes home cultivation and personal possession
A reform signed by President Petr Pavel on 17 July 2025 took effect on 1 January 2026, allowing adults 21+ to grow up to 3 cannabis plants and possess up to 100g at home / 25g in public. There are no dispensaries, commercial sales, or cannabis social clubs — personal use and home-grow only.
- Thailand · Jun 25, 2025Thailand restricts cannabis to medical use only
On 25 June 2025 Thailand re-criminalised recreational cannabis, moving to a medical-only model: a doctor's prescription (valid up to 30 days) is now required to buy cannabis, and from January 2026 dispensaries must have an on-site certified practitioner. Thousands of shops have closed. CBD products under 0.2% THC remain available without a prescription. For travelers: buying cannabis recreationally without a prescription is no longer legal.
- Argentina · May 23, 2025Argentina tightens medical cannabis rules; recreational stays decriminalized
Private adult possession is decriminalized in Argentina (per the 2009 'Arriola' ruling), and medical cannabis is legal through the REPROCANN registry (Decree 883/2020), which lets authorized patients self-cultivate (typically up to 9 flowering plants) and possess up to 40g. In 2025, Resolution 1780/2025 tightened oversight of caregivers and associations and the national cannabis regulator (ARICCAME) was dissolved, leaving the sector in flux. Recreational use remains illegal.
- United Kingdom · May 1, 2025UK: cannabis still Class B; London mayor backs decriminalizing small amounts
Recreational cannabis is illegal in the United Kingdom (a Class B drug). Medical cannabis has been legal since 2018 but access is very limited — fewer than 5,000 NHS prescriptions, so most patients pay privately. In May 2025, London Mayor Sadiq Khan backed the London Drugs Commission's call to decriminalize possession of small amounts of natural cannabis, but the UK government has ruled out changing the law.
- Italy · Apr 12, 2025Italy bans CBD and hemp flower (Decree-Law 48/2025)
Recreational cannabis is illegal in Italy and medical cannabis is available by prescription. In a major reversal, Decree-Law 48/2025 (12 April 2025) reclassified hemp inflorescences and CBD derived from them as narcotics — banning their cultivation, sale, and consumption even at 0% THC. Only prescribed medicinal cannabis remains permitted. A Parma court challenged the crackdown in June 2025, but national enforcement continues.
- Netherlands · Apr 7, 2025Netherlands begins regulated supply for coffeeshops ('weed experiment')
On 7 April 2025 the Netherlands started the experimental phase of its Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment (the 'weed experiment'): coffeeshops in 10 participating municipalities may sell only regulated cannabis from designated licensed growers. The trial runs four years (extendable) and is NOT nationwide. From 1 September 2025, selling illegal hashish in participating coffeeshops is no longer tolerated.
- Canada · Mar 12, 2025Canada refreshes cannabis rules after its legislative review
Cannabis has been legal for adults across Canada since 17 October 2018. Following the Cannabis Act legislative review (an expert-panel final report with 54 recommendations), Health Canada introduced 2025 regulatory amendments to streamline licensing, security, production, and labelling. New health warnings and label features are required on all cannabis products by 1 January 2026.
- Brazil · Jun 26, 2024Brazil's Supreme Court decriminalizes personal cannabis possession
On 26 June 2024 Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruled that possessing cannabis for personal use is not a crime, setting a threshold of 40g or 6 female plants; above that is treated as trafficking. Cannabis remains illicit (administrative measures such as warnings apply) and there is no legal retail market. The ruling was upheld in February 2025.
- France · Mar 1, 2024France launches a permanent medical cannabis program (recreational still banned)
Recreational cannabis remains illegal in France — since 2020 minor possession carries a fixed €200 fine (and technically remains a criminal offence). A permanent medical cannabis programme was established by decree in March 2024, giving eligible patients prescription access to cannabis-based medicines. Adult-use legalization is not on the political agenda.
- Greece · Feb 19, 2024Greece's first medical cannabis products reach patients
Medical cannabis has been legal in Greece since 2017, and the first medical products became available to patients on 19 February 2024 (paid out-of-pocket). Recreational cannabis (above 0.2% THC) remains illegal. Greece is also a major licensed medical-cannabis production and export hub, supplying markets such as Germany.
- Malta · Jan 15, 2024Malta's non-profit cannabis associations begin distributing
Malta was the first EU country to legalize adult-use cannabis (December 2021): adults 18+ may possess up to 7g, store 50g at home, and grow up to 4 plants (not visible from public spaces). Non-profit Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations (CHRAs), overseen by the ARUC, began distributing cannabis in January 2024 — 19 held permits by April 2025 (max 500 members each; 7g/day, 50g/month). A 2024 amendment added enforcement of cannabis-odor nuisance complaints.
- Peru · Sep 1, 2023Peru: medical cannabis legal with patient self-cultivation; small possession decriminalized
Peru legalized medical cannabis in 2017 (Law 30681); regulations updated by Supreme Decree 004-2023-SA now let patients in the RENPUC registry self-cultivate. Recreational use is illegal, but personal possession of up to 8g of cannabis (2g of derivatives such as hashish) is not treated as a crime under the Penal Code.
- Luxembourg · Jul 21, 2023Luxembourg legalizes home cultivation and private use
Since 21 July 2023, adults (18+) in Luxembourg may grow up to four cannabis plants per household (from seed, not visible to the public) and consume at home. Public possession of more than 3g remains an offence (a €145 fine for 3g or less). There is no commercial retail — home-grow and private use only.
- Costa Rica · Mar 1, 2022Costa Rica legalizes medical cannabis and industrial hemp
Costa Rica's Law 10113 (March 2022) legalized cannabis for medical and therapeutic use (by prescription, via regulated channels) and legalized industrial hemp (<1% THC). Recreational use remains illegal — a recreational-control bill was later declared unconstitutional — and self-cultivation is not permitted, though personal consumption carries no criminal penalty.
- Mexico · Jun 28, 2021Mexico: recreational cannabis decriminalized, but no legal market yet
Mexico's Supreme Court decriminalized adult recreational cannabis use in 2021, and COFEPRIS grants personal permits (up to 28g and 6 plants). Medical cannabis is legal. However, Congress has still not passed comprehensive legislation, so there is no legal commercial production or retail — the country remains in a transitional 'limbo' between decriminalization and full legalization.
- Morocco · May 26, 2021Morocco legalizes medical and industrial cannabis (Law 13-21)
Morocco's 2021 Law 13-21 legalized cannabis for medical, cosmetic, and industrial use, overseen by the regulator ANRAC. The legal sector has grown fast — roughly 4,200 tonnes cultivated and ~5,765 permits in 2025. Recreational use ('kif') remains illegal, even though it is widely produced in the Rif region.
- Australia · Jan 31, 2020Australia: medical cannabis nationwide; personal use legal only in the ACT
Medical cannabis has been legal nationwide by prescription since 2016 (via the TGA). Recreational use is a patchwork: in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra), adults have been able to possess up to 50g and grow two plants (max four per household) since 2020, though sale and supply remain illegal. Some states (e.g. South Australia, Northern Territory) decriminalize small-amount possession with fines; elsewhere recreational use remains illegal.
- Israel · Apr 1, 2019Israel decriminalizes personal use; large medical program, recreational stalled
Since 1 April 2019, private adult use of cannabis is decriminalized in Israel — first-time possession of up to 15g in private triggers a fine rather than prosecution. Medical cannabis is well established (around 130,000 active licenses in 2025). Recreational legalization bills passed preliminary Knesset readings in 2020 but have repeatedly stalled amid political instability.
- Austria · Jan 1, 2016Austria: personal possession decriminalized; medical limited to synthetics
Recreational THC cannabis is illegal in Austria, though personal possession of small amounts has been decriminalized since 2016 (usually a warning or fine). Medical use is permitted but limited to synthetic/standardized products (e.g. dronabinol, Sativex) — cannabis flower is not available medically. In 2025 a court ruled that low-THC CBD flower falls under the tobacco monopoly, restricting its sale to licensed tobacconists.
- Jamaica · Apr 15, 2015Jamaica decriminalizes ganja and legalizes religious and medical use
A 2015 amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act decriminalized possession of up to 2 ounces (~56.6g) of cannabis (a small fine, no criminal record) and made Jamaica the first country to explicitly permit sacramental use by Rastafari. Adults may grow up to five plants. Medical cannabis is legal with a doctor's recommendation — tourists can access dispensaries — but public smoking remains an offence.
- Belgium · Jan 1, 2003Belgium: personal possession decriminalized; medical very limited
Cannabis is illegal in Belgium, but since 2003 personal possession by adults of up to 3g (or one home-grown plant per adult) is decriminalized — typically an administrative fine rather than prosecution. Public or 'blatant' possession and larger amounts are still prosecuted. Medical access is very limited (the mouth-spray Sativex, for MS).
- Portugal · Jul 1, 2001Portugal: personal use decriminalized; medical legal, recreational not
Portugal decriminalized personal use of all drugs in 2001 — possession of small amounts of cannabis (up to ~25g herb / 5g resin) is an administrative matter, not a crime. Medical cannabis has been available via pharmacies with a prescription since 2018. Recreational sale and cultivation remain illegal, and cannabis social clubs are not officially recognized.