World Data

Illegal but often unenforced

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

The law of prohibition exists but however with high
availability of cannabis plants throughout the country, this law is often unenforced.

Illegal (decriminalized; medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Decriminalized for personal use in small amounts and
for consumption in private locations, the Supreme Court ruled in 2009. Medicinal cannabis is legal in Chubut since 23 September 2016, and in Santa Fe since 30 November 2016.

Legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. Decriminalised
for personal use in the Northern Territory, South Australia and
the Australian Capital Territory.

Illegal

Illegal

Legal only for medicinal and scientific purposes.

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal

Illegal

Sale banned in 1989 Possession of cannabis is illegal
in Bangladesh, with penalties ranging from six months to fifteen years. However, cannabis is openly sold in many parts of the country and the laws are rarely enforced.

Illegal (decriminalized up to three grams)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized) one plant)

Since 2003, adults over the age of eighteen had been
allowed to possess up to three grams

Illegal (decriminalized to 10 grams)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Cannabis use in Belize is common and largely tolerated;
however, possession can result in fines or imprisonment. In 2016, national media reported that legislation to decriminalize possession of up to ten grams was “in the works”

Illegal (decriminalized for small amounts and private
use)(Some medicine legal)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized for small amounts)

Since 2006, the possession of illegal drugs like cannabis
(for personal consumption) entails a warning, community service and education on the effects of drug use. The same measures apply to the planting or preparation of small amounts of any illegal drug. Selling and transportation of any illegal drugs, as well as the possession or cultivation of larger amounts is characterized as drug trafficking, a criminal act punished with five to fifteen years in prison and a significant fine.

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Cannabis is formally illegal in Cambodia. This
prohibition is however lax and enforced opportunistically.  Many “Happy” restaurants located in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville
publicly offer food cooked with marijuana, or as a side garnish.

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (regulated by some cities)

Illegal

Illegal (small amounts of plants tolerated)

Legal with government issued licence for medicinal or
industrial purposes. On 20 April 2016, Health Minister Jane Philpott announced that new legislation would be introduced in spring 2017 to legalize and regulate cannabis in Canada. See Legislation:
“Controlled Drugs and Substances Act”

Illegal (decriminalized; medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Legal

In 2005, Law 20.000 formally decriminalised private
and personal cannabis use. Since 2014, Chile allows the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes with the authorization of The Chilean Agriculture Service (SAG). Cultivation of marijuana, personal or
collective, is legal in Chile. The Supreme Court ruled in 2015. Sale of marijuana-derived medication is allowed on prescription in pharmacies, from December 2015. Currently in 2016, a regulation bill which will
allow Chileans to grow small amounts of marijuana for medicinal, recreational or spiritual use has been approved by the country’s lower house of Congress.

Legal for up to 22 grams for personal use. No limit
for medicinal or scientific purpose, and if licensed by the “National
Anti-narcotics Council”

Legal for medicinal and scientific use only

Legal for medicinal and scientific use only

Legal up to twenty plants for personal consumption.
No limit for medicinal or scientific use, and if licensed by the “National
Anti-narcotics Council”

Since 1994, cannabis has been legalized for possession
of small amounts up to 22 grams for personal consumption. In 2016, The Supreme Court of Justice stated that someone who is caught with a greater amount than the statutory limit cannot be criminally prosecuted if it is found that the person carries the substance to satisfy their own consumption needs. It is legal to possess up to twenty plants for personal consumption.

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized)

Some interpret the law to say cannabis is illegal, but
there is a high tolerance of smoking marijuana throughout the country. A decriminalization system is de facto implemented, since police officers do not detain people carrying enough for only personal consumption, yet no amount has been defined as a minimum for possession. The usage of cannabis in Costa Rica is very high

Illegal (decriminalized; medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

From 2013, the possession of small amount of marijuana and other light drugs is a misdemeanor which leads to a fine of 5000–20000kn ($800–3500)
depending on the case in question. In 2015, the Ministry of Health officially legalized the use of cannabis-based drugs for medicinal purposes for
patients with illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or AIDS.

Illegal (possession of up to 15g decriminalized)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (up to 15g decriminalized; licensed usage legal)

Illegal (cultivation of up to five bushes decriminalized/cultivation
for medicinal purposes subject to license legal)

Since 2010 possession of up to fifteen grams for personal use or cultivation of up to five plants is a misdemeanor subject to minor fine – mostly not enforced. Popular destination for smokers.
Medicinal use of cannabis on prescription has been legal and regulated since 2013

Legal for medical use with a prescription. Illegal for
recreational use, however, the law is often unenforced by police. (Declared
legal in Freetown but this is unrecognized by Danish authorities)

Legal for medical use with a prescription. Illegal for
recreational use, however, the law is often unenforced by police. (Declared
legal in Freetown but this is unrecognized by Danish authorities, arrests/raids
happens from time to time)

Legal for prescription and licensed medical cultivated
production. (Small amounts for personal recreational use only are often
unenforced by police.)

Legal with government license. Licenses issued for medical
production only.

As with all drugs, cannabis-related offences are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years Freetown Christiania, a self-declared autonomous community in Copenhagen, is known for its cannabis trade.

Illegal (decriminalized) up to ten grams

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

As defined by Law 108, possession of small amounts of
cannabis is decriminalized. Possession of under ten grams is considered personal use and it is not punished.

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Up to 7.5 grams is considered an amount for personal
use, and is punished with a fine. Large amounts and distribution are criminal offences and punishable with a custodial sentence of up to half a decade.

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Since 2001 personal use cases are generally not prosecuted in court but subject to summary fine. Since 2006, use of medicinal cannabis has been possible under a special license. In 2014, 223 licenses were
issued.

Illegal, but possession for personal use decriminalized

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (medicinal use only) Recreational consumption
is allowed on the basis of it being considered self-harm;

Legal to those with a prescription (or if permission
is given by “Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices”)

Legal with prescription (or if permission is given by
“Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices”)

Illegal (Legal if permission is given by “Federal
Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices”)

The possession of recreational cannabis is illegal,
while consumption itself is legal on the basis of it being considered self-harm, which is not considered a crime. The possession of small amounts is prosecuted, but charges are virtually always dropped. By January 2015, 241 patients have obtained permission for medicinal cannabis products from a pharmacy since 2008. In mid 2016 around 5000 patients received cannabis products. On 4 May 2016 the Cabinet
of Germany decided to approve the measure for legal cannabis for seriously ill patients who have consulted with a doctor and “have no therapeutic alternative”. German Health Minister, Hermann Gröhe, presented the legal draft on the legalization of medicinal cannabis
to the cabinet, which took effect in early 2017

Illegal (but the amount of 0.5 grams or 1 pure/2 impure
cannabis cigarettes decriminalised in court if made sure to be for personal
use)Legal for medicinal purposes.

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Possession or use of even small amounts is illegal in
Greece, but if found to be for personal use it’s decriminalized in court. Individuals are arrested, although rarely convicted by court. Possession
of large quantities may lead to several years in prison

Illegal at the federal level. Legal or tolerated in
several states such as Bihar, Odisha,
Uttarakhand, West
Bengal and the North-Eastern states. Decriminalized in Gujarat.

Illegal at the federal level. Industrial hemp legal
at the state level in Uttarakhand. Legal or tolerated in several states such as Bihar, Odisha,
West Bengal and the North-Eastern
states.  Decriminalized in Gujarat.

Illegal at the federal level.Legal or tolerated in several
states such as Bihar, Gujarat,
Odisha,
Uttarakhand,
West Bengal and the North-Eastern states.

Illegal at the federal level. Industrial hemp legal
at the state level. Legal or tolerated in several
states such as Bihar, Gujarat,
Odisha,
West Bengal and
the North-Eastern states.

Government-owned shops in holy cities like Varanasi and few other north Indian states sell cannabis in the form of bhang. Despite the high prevalent usage, cannabis remains illegal, but is rarely
enforced and treated as low priority across India. Large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild in many parts of northern and southern India. In November 2015, Uttarakh and became the first state of India
to legalise the production of industrial hemp. Bhang was removed from the Prohibition Act in Gujarat in February 2017, hence its consumption and sale has been decriminalized in the state. Many states such as Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and the North-Eastern
states have their own laws allowing cannabis, locally known as Ganja. In 2016, a Private Member’s Bill was scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha, which calls for the legalisation and regulation of “non-synthetic”
intoxicants, including cannabis and opium

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal (decriminalized)

Legal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

The National Drugs Strategy of 2009–2016 did not favour decriminalising cannabis. A new strategy is planned from 2017.  Cannabis-derived
medicines may be licensed since 2014. A review of policy on medicinal cannabis was announced in November 2016 ]and a private member’s bill to legalise it passed second stage in the Dáil in December 2016.

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (licensed medicinal providers only)

Illegal for recreational use, but limited medicinal
uses have been permitted since the 1990s.  In early 2017, Gilad Erdan, the nation’s Public Security Minister, announced that Israel planned to decriminalise the possession of cannabis for personal use.

Illegal (decriminalized; allowed medicinal and religious
usage)

Illegal

IlIegal

Illegal

Possession of small amounts for personal use is a misdemeanor subject to fines and the suspension of documents (passports or drivers licenses). The sale of cannabis products is illegal and punishable by
imprisonment; cultivation is likewise punishable by imprisonment, even if in small amounts and for exclusive personal use. Licensed cultivation
for medicinal and industrial use is strictly regulated

Illegal (decriminalized), Legal if Rastafarian

Illegal

Legal if Rastafarian

Legal

On 25 February 2015, the Jamaican House of Representatives passed a law decriminalizing possession of up to two ounces of cannabis.
The new law includes provisions legalizing the cultivation for personal use of up to five plants, as well as setting up regulations for the cultivation and distribution of cannabis for medicinal, religious purposes and natural growth.

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized); medical use only

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Transportation and consumption are illegal. Since 2001, decriminalized and prison penalty has been substituted by a monetary fine ranging from €250 to €2,500

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (legal for medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

If one possesses a larger amount, a jail sentence of
anywhere from three months to five years may be given] Medicinal cannabis was legalized in 2016.

Illegal (decriminalized up to 3.5g)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

As of 2015, simple possession is decriminalized, but
remains an arrestable offense for the police purpose of collecting intelligence about drug trafficking.

Legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. Decriminalized
for personal use.

Illegal

Illegal

Legal for medicinal and scientific purposes. Decriminalized
for personal use.

On 21 August 2009 Mexico decriminalized “personal
use” possession of up to five grams of Cannabis. In November 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that four individuals from the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use would be permitted
to grow and smoke their own marijuana. The court voted 4-1 that prohibiting people from growing the drug for consumption was unconstitutional as
it violated the human right to the free development of one’s personality. In December 2016, Mexico’s Senate voted to legalise marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes – this was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in April 2017.

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Possession of small quantity and personal use is not
a crime in Moldova, but it is an administrative offence according to Article 85 of the Administrative Offences Code, passed in 2008. Selling, cultivation and transport, however, remain illegal and penalized. The
illegal purchase or possession of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances in small amounts without the purpose of further distribution, as well as their consumption without a prescription, are sanctioned with a fine of up to three conventional units or with community service of up to 40 hours.

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (Legal during Maha Shivaratri)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

All cannabis licenses canceled in 1973. Despite
being illegal, cannabis is cheap and widely available in Nepal, and the police have little-to-no interest in cannabis-related issues

Illegal but tolerated in ‘coffeeshops’, Decriminalized
up to five grams (in case of a police control it is still confiscated),
and for public use.

Tolerated for ‘coffeeshops’

Illegal (Unenforced for ‘coffeeshops’, but enforced
for growers who distribute to shops)

Illegal (decriminalized up to five plants; plants are
generally still destroyed.)

Personal possession has been decriminalized since 1976, and cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local “coffeeshops”

Illegal (decriminalized; medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Up to fifteen grams is considered an amount for personal use, and is punished with a fine in the case of first-time offenders; possessing more is punished more harshly. In December 2017, the Norwegian
Parliament announced its intention to decriminalize certain psychoactive drugs for personal use, including cannabis and provide for medical treatment to users rather than enforce fines and imprisonment.

Illegal (decriminalized up to ten grams)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

In Paraguay, Law N° 1.340 (Art. 30), exempted from punishment those in possession of a maximum of ten grams of marijuana for personal consumption.

Illegal (decriminalized; medicinal use only)

Legal for medicinal use only

Legal for medicinal use only

Illegal

Possession is decriminalized Art. 299 of the Criminal
Code. Possession of under eight grams is considered personal use and it is not punished.  Illegal:
Cultivation, production or sell is punished with eight to fifteen years in prison.

Illegal (Provision for medicinal use as per Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Pending Government approval)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (For medicinal and scientific purposes only)

Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, makes provision for restricted medicinal use. Congress introduced House Bill No. 4477, known as the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, which
would legalize the use of medicinal marijuana. 

Illegal (legal for medicinal use only)

Illegal (legal for medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

On 26 May 2011, Poland introduced legislation that would give prosecutors the option to not prosecute for possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use, if it is a first offence, or if the person is drug dependent.The legislation raised the maximum possible penalty for placing a large number of drugs from ten to twelve years in prison. However, for possession of large quantities of drugs would
result up to ten years in prison (previously up to eight years)

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal (decriminalized)

In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world
to decriminalize the use of all drugs.

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal (medicinal use only)

In 2015 the Governor of Puerto Rico signed a executive order to legalize cannabis for medicinal use only.

Illegal (limited medicinal use only; ban often unenforced)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Romania was (before 1990) a leader in hemp fiber, second only to China. Possession of small quantities of drug preparations is punishable by a large fine for first offenders, six months to two years in prison if the person has been convicted before. Possession of large
amounts or trafficking is punishable by two to seven years of jail time. Decriminalization proposedMedicinal cannabis was legalized in 2013.

Illegal (decriminalized), possession of quantities of
up to six grams

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized), transport of quantities of
up to six grams

Illegal (decriminalized), cultivation of up to twenty
plants[citation needed]

Possession of under six grams of cannabis or two grams
of hashish is an administrative rather than criminal infraction.

Illegal (medical use only)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

Possession is punishable by a fine or by imprisonment
of up to three years. Sale and transport are punishable by imprisonment from three to twelve years. Cultivation is punishable by imprisonment
from six months to five years. Higher penalties for organized crime.

Illegal (decriminalized)

Illegal

Illegal

Legal for quantities with ≤ 0.2 % THC on
a ≤ 0.1 ha surface, or ≥ 0.1 ha surface with a governmental
permit for cannabis cultivation.

Cannabis-based drugs are legal for medicinal use, but
not cannabis itself.Possession of any drug for personal use is decriminalized.

legal

legal

legal

legal

On the 31st of March, 2017, the Dagga Couple won a landmark ruling in the Western Cape High Court, where they said that the ban on cannabis was unconstitutional, and allowed the dagga couple to take
their case on legalizing cannabis to the constitutional court. Due to this landmark ruling, so many news outlets have announced that cannabis was legal in South Africa. This is FALSE, and has actually resulted
in a spike of arrests as people were freely smoking it

Legal (Private areas only, illegal in public areas (decriminalized),
offenders receive an administrative fine.) Possession of more than 70/100gr.
(depending on the autonomous community) is considered as possession
with the intention of trafficking.

Technically illegal, but Cannabis can be acquired in
private smoker/cannabis clubs. Selling by itself is punished by prison
in all the ways, even for first offenders.

Illegal (decriminalized)

Legal (Only for own consumption. If the plants are located
somewhere visible from the street/public place, it’s an administrative
offense)

Sale and importation of any quantity of cannabis is
a criminal offence, punishable by jail time. The purchase, possession and consumption of cannabis in a public place constitutes a misdemeanour and punishable by a fine and confiscation of the product. Consumption and cultivation by adults in a private space is legal, the latter due to a legal vacuum. Cannabis plants that are located somewhere visible
from the street/public place (ie. from balconies) are considered a serious administrative offense, which leads to a fine from 601 to 30.000€. About 500 private “cannabis clubs” exist in Spain, 200 of them in Barcelona, and Spain is spoken of as the “new Amsterdam,” a destination for marijuana tourists. All actions related to cannabis apart from sale or trade aren’t considered criminal offenses, and normally are misdemeanors punishable by a fine.  In June 2017, Catalonia legalised cannabis after the government voted by 118 to 9 to regulate the local
cannabis clubs; the cultivation, consumption and distribution of cannabis is now legal for those who are members of designated clubs.

Illegal (decriminalized)

Legal for medicinal purposes.

Illegal

Illegal

Since 2012, possession of ten grams or less is decriminalized to a fine.

Illegal (Poorly enforced)

Illegal (Poorly enforced)

Illegal

Illegal

Criminalized in 1935. According to the Thailand
Narcotics Act, B.E. 2522 (1979), possession, cultivation, and transport (import/export) of up to 10 kg cannabis may result in a maximum sentence of half a decade in prison or a fine.

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

Legal for medicinal and scientific purposes.

The cultivation of marijuana is legal in nineteen provinces in Turkey for medicincal and scientific purposes. However, with permission this can also be conducted in other provinces too. Consuming any drug
(personal use or not) is illegal and requires juridical process. Possessing, purchasing or receiving any illegal drug, including Cannabis,
is punishable by one to two years in prison; there is also the option of treatment or probation for up to three years. If users refuse treatment or do not comply with probation requirements, the courts can decide
on sentencing.  Sale and supply is punishable by a prison term of five to ten years, and production or trafficking by a minimum term of ten years.

Illegal (decriminalized), possession of quantities of
up to an ounce

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal

In 2014 the governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands approved a bill that decriminalized possession of marijuana up to an ounce.

Illegal (decriminalized possession of quantities of
up to five grams)

Illegal

Illegal (decriminalized possession of quantities of
up to five grams)

Illegal (decriminalized up to ten plants)

Illegal at the federal level (but legal at the state
level in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont,
and Washington, as well as being legal in Washington, D.C.;
decriminalized in eighteen states, medicinal legal in 29 states, Puerto
Rico, and Guam. All Indian Reservations are allowed to
regulate cannabis laws; laws vary by reservation.)

Illegal at the federal level (but legal at the state
level with a state issued license in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
Legal medicinal sales in several additional states. All Indian
Reservations are allowed to regulate cannabis laws; laws vary by
reservation.)

Illegal at the federal level (but legal at the state
level within the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Legal for medicinal patients in several additional states. All Indian
Reservations are allowed to regulate cannabis laws; laws vary by
reservation.)

Illegal at the federal level (but legal at the state
level for individuals/commercial in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Vermont,
individual but not commercial in Washington, D.C., and only commercially
in Washington. Medicinal growing is legal in several states as
well. All Indian Reservations are allowed to regulate cannabis
laws; laws vary by reservation.)

Laws vary by state, Territory, Indian Reservation, and Washington, DC. Federal law classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, the same classification as heroin. The United States Supreme Court has
ruled in Gonzales v. Raich that the federal government has the power to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medicinal purposes. The Department of Justicerecently allowed recognized Indian reservations
to regulate marijuana within their reservation. However, despite the Department of Justice stating that federally recognized Indian reservations have the right to regulate cannabis on their land, the Department of Justice’s agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration has been raiding and destroying cannabis crops on several reservations creating a double standard among U.S. enforcement agencies.

Legal

Legal (but buying prohibited for foreigners)

Legal

Legal (up to six plants)

José Mujica has fully legalized any use of Cannabis
in Uruguay; law does not specify quantity for “personal amount”. As of 10 December 2013, the House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill legalizing and regulating the production and sale of the drug. The new law says that buyers must be eighteen or older, residents of Uruguay, and must register with the authorities. Authorities will grow the cannabis that can be sold legally.

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal (unenforced)

Illegal

Illegal

Illegal (medicinal use only)

Illegal

Illegal

Legal if licensed by the Minister of Health