Legality of cannabis by country - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Country	Possession	Sale	Transportation	Cultivation	Notes
	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal
	Decriminalized	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Legal for personal use in small amounts and for consumption in private locations. Public consumption is generally accepted among young adults. Consumption for medical purposes Medical cannabis Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine... is accepted but not legislated (only in private locations). Cultivating, selling and transporting large amounts is illegal and punishable by present laws.
Australia	Illegal (Decriminalized in some states)				Decriminalized for personal use in small amounts in the Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory... , South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland... , Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east... and the Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions... . It is a criminal offence in New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... , Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean... , Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively.... and Tasmania Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart... . Enforcement varies from state to state, though a criminal conviction for possession of a small amount is unlikely and diversion programs in these states aim to divert offenders into education, assessment and treatment programs. With the rapid expansion in hydroponically grown cannabis cultivation, the Australian Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act (1985) was amended in 2006, reducing the amount of cannabis grown indoors under hydroponic conditions that qualifies as a 'commercial quantity' or as a 'large quantity'
Austria	Illegal				Possession (which includes the act of smoking) is punishable by prison time of up to 1 year (option of alternative therapy and subsequent waiving of sentence)
Belgium	Illegal (Decriminalized)	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	For adults in Belgium, consumption in one's home and possession of quantities of up to 3 grams or one female plant is not legal but tolerated.
Bolivia	Illegal				Possession is illegal.
Brazil	Illegal (Depenalized)				The possession of any drug in Brazil, for personal consumption, entails a warning, community service Community service Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions.... and education on the effects of drug use. The same applies for the planting and/or preparation of small amounts of any drug.
Kingdom of Bulgaria	Illegal				Cannabis is class A (High-risk) drug, together with Heroin, Cocaine Cocaine Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic... , Amphetamines and MDMA (ecstasy). Until 2004 a loosely defined "personal dose" existed. Since 2006, after the last amendment of the Penal Code, the penalty for possession is 1 to 6 years in prison and a fine between 1,000 and 5,000 euros. For possession with an aim of distribution (drug-dealing) the sentence can range from 2 to 8 years for small amounts, through 3 to 12 years for large amounts, up to 5 to 15 years when executed by an organized criminal group. In these cases the maximum fine to be determined together with the prison time is 50,000 euros. Growing is punishable by 2 to 5 years and a fine up to 5,000 euros. The organizer of a growers group can receive from 10 to 20 years and has to pay a fine up to 100,000 euros and a participant in such a group – 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine of 2,500 to 5,000 euros. In minor cases of growing cannabis (for example a few plants grown by a single person and not meant for distribution) the sentence is up to 1 year and a fine between 250 and 500 euros, but the prison term could be replaced by probation. Consumption is not prohibited, as only possession, trafficking or dealing is a crime but handling of a joint while smoking can be interpreted as possession. Bulgarian Penal Code (translation requested)
Cambodia	De-facto legal				While technically illegal, the use of cannabis is widespread among the Khmer people and foreigners visiting the country. Marijuana can easily be purchased and smoked in public areas without the threat of arrest. Many "Happy" restaurants located in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville publicly offer food cooked with marijuana, or as a side garnish.
Canada	Illegal (Legal for medical and industrial use with a government issued license)	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal (1 or more plants) unless in possession of a government issued license to grow for medical purposes	see Legislation: "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act"
Chile	Illegal				Cultivation of Cannabis plants other than for personal use is considered illegal without a permit from the Agriculture Ministry. Though consumption and possession in small quantities alone on a private property is legal, consumption by a group of individuals is illegal. Consumption for medical purposes Medical cannabis Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine... is legal but not regulated.
Mainland China	Illegal				Cannabis is cultivated for its seeds and for fiber, and has a long medicinal history.
Colombia	Illegal				Since 1994, cannabis has been decriminalized for possession of small amounts up to 1 gram for personal consumption, however sale and cultivation remains illegal.
Comoros	Illegal				Cannabis was legal during the Comorian historical period between January 1975 and May 1978, when president Ali Soilih Ali Soilih Ali Soilih, full name Ali Soilih Mtsashiwa, was a Comorian socialist revolutionary and political figure.-Biography:... legalized cannabis consumption among other measures
Costa Rica	Illegal (Decriminalized)				Cannabis is illegal but there is a high tolerance of smoking marijuana throughout the country, a decriminalization system is implemented de facto since police officers do not detain people carrying enough for only personal consumption, yet no amount has been defined as a minimum for possession, usage of Cannabis in Costa Rica is very high.
Independent State of Croatia	Illegal (Decriminalized)				No distinction in the Croatian penal code exists between various illegal substances. According to the current law growing or sale of cannabis (or any other drug) is considered a felony punishable by a mandatory prison sentence (three years minimum) and the possession of any amount is a felony which leads to either a fine or a one-year prison sentence, depending on the case in question (although people arrested with smaller amounts of cannabis are typically just fined after the court's ruling). In all cases the cannabis must be confiscated. In April 2010 the State Attorney General and Chief of Police adopted a set of temporary working guidelines designed to reform the local law-enforcing practices which included effectively downgrading the possession of small amounts of cannabis to a misdemeanor (meaning that persons caught in possession would no longer be prosecuted in court and would only have to pay a fine). In October 2010 the justice ministry confirmed that a proposition to change the legal status of possession and growing of cannabis "for personal use" to misdemeanors will be featured in the upcoming package of reforms expected to amend the penal code in the near future.
Cyprus	Illegal				Class B substance – life imprisonment is possible for use and maximum 8 years for possession (maximum 2 yrs for first offence for under 25 yr old). In practice, warning may be given to a minor first offender.
Czech Republic	Illegal (Decriminalized)				Possession of up to fifteen grams for personal use or cultivation of up to five plants is merely a misdemeanor from 2010 onwards. The plant still remains illegal. Popular destination for smokers.http://ireadculture.com/2011/07/news/the-next-amsterdam/ Sale remains illegal.
Denmark	Illegal
Dominica	Illegal				Class B drug to cultivate, sell or possess
Ecuador	Decriminalized				Possession is not illegal, defined by Law 108.
Egypt	Illegal				Technically illegal. However, use is widespread and part of every day culture. Convictions are very rare for personal use .
Estonia	Illegal (Decriminalized)				Up to 10 grams is considered an amount for personal use, and is punished with a fine. Large amounts and distribution are criminal offences, and are punishable with a fine or by up to 5 years in prison.
Ethiopia	Illegal				Despite being the spiritual homeland of the Rastafari movement Rastafari movement The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God... , possession of cannabis can result in up to 6 months imprisonment.
Finland	Illegal (Decriminalized for medical use)				Extremely limited group of medicinal users (12 people as of 31.01.2010) are permitted to purchase it from one special pharmacy in the city of Turku.
Early Modern France	Illegal				Cultivating, selling, owning or consuming cannabis is prohibited.
Germany	Illegal				There is a myth, that the possession of small amounts hash Hashish Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves... or marihuana was ruled legal by the German Federal Constitutional Court in 1994. This is not true. It was only ruled, that new scientific evidence relating to the danger of cannabis has to be observed. At the time of the judgement there was, according to the court, no sufficent scientific evidence proving that cannabis is harmless. The possession is illegal. In some of the federal states the possession of small amounts (<5 g) is not prosecuted, in other (mostly southern) federal states the possession of even the smallest amounts is prosecuted.
Greece	Illegal				Possession or use of even small amounts is illegal in Greece. Individuals are arrested, although rarely convicted by court. Possession of large quantities may lead to several years in prison. Currently (August 10 2011), the government is preparing a bill that would decriminalize the use of drugs.
Hong Kong	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	The possession, sale, transportation, cultivation of cannabis is illegal under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance (Chapter 134 of the Law of Hong Kong).
Hungary	Illegal				There is no distinction in Hungarian law between illicit drugs according to dangers. Heroin use has the same consequences as cannabis use. Hungarian law prohibits the distribution, and any use (including medical use). However the Penal code distinguishes the punishment between sale and personal use. 283. § (1) paragraph (a) states that "One cannot be punished for drug misuse; if a small, personal amount is produced, acquired, or in possession..." and continues to state that "... provided that before final verdict is determined a verification is provided that continuous 6 month therapy has taken place" The law determines that a "personal quantity" is defined as 1 gram of active substance (i.e. THC), therefore this equates to 12-100 grams of marijuana if calculated that marijuana contains 1-8% THC per unit mass. Possession of larger amounts can lead to a 5-10 year prison sentence.
Iceland	Illegal				Consumption is illegal even in small amounts. Possession, sale, transportation and cultivation could result in jail time. Possession is not strictly enforced. Heavy fines are given.
Indonesia	Illegal				Personal use in small amounts: Maximum sentence of 4 years in prison (additional fines may apply) if caught by the police in possession, intoxication or by positive urine test. However, if the user voluntarily reports himself/herself to the police, or is reported by his/her family, the sentence shall be no more than 6 months in prison or a fine of not more than Rp 2.000.000 (two million Indonesian Rupiah/USD$200–250).
India	Illegal/Legal (Regulated by Government)				Used during observance of certain Hindu Hindu Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion... rituals. Government-owned shops in holy cities like Varanasi Varanasi -Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south... sell cannabis in the form of bhang Bhang Bhang is a preparation from the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant, smoked or consumed as a beverage in the Indian subcontinent.- India:... . Despite the high prevalent usage, the law makes it illegal to possess any form of the psychoactive. However, this law is rarely enforced and treated as a low priority across India. Further, large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild in many parts of northern India.
Iran	See 'Notes'	Regulated: Legal, Unregulated: Illegal	Regulated: Legal, Unregulated: Illegal	Legal	Growing cannabis is legal if planted for food purposes as the seeds are eaten by the Iranian people, and companies often draw oil from the seeds which is sold legally. A person is allowed to carry up to 15g of cannabis legally; for every gram above they will be charged 10000 Rials.
Republic of Ireland	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal
Israel	Illegal (Decriminalized for medical use)				Very small scale of legal usage of medicinal cannabis. However, personal use is relatively decriminalized with little to no penalties for convicted first time violators.
Italy	Illegal
Jamaica	Illegal				Cultivation, retail and consumption is illegal. However this is often overlooked and cannabis is sold openly.
Japan	Illegal				Possession is punishable by up to five years in prison. Importing or selling cannabis is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and up to 30 million yen.
Jordan	Illegal				Possession is illegal and may be punishable by prison sentence.
Latvia	Illegal
Lebanon	Illegal				Possession is illegal. However, large amounts are grown within the country and personal use, as long as not in public is not a major issue.
Lithuania	Illegal
Luxembourg	Illegal				Possession, transportation and consumption are illegal. Prosecution depends on the amount of cannabis one possesses. Since 2001, prison penalty has been substituted by a monetary fine ranging from 250 to 2500 Euro Euro The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,... s.
Republic of Macedonia	Illegal				If one possesses a larger amount, a jail sentence of anywhere from three months to five years could possibly be given.
Malaysia	Illegal				Malaysian legislation provides for a mandatory death penalty for convicted drug traffickers. Individuals arrested in possession of 15 grams (1/2 ounce) of heroin or 200 grams (seven ounces) of marijuana are presumed by law to be trafficking in drugs.
Malta	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal
Mexico	Decriminalized				On August 21, 2009, Mexico decriminalized "personal use" possession of up to 5 grams of Cannabis. Growing and selling Cannabis is illegal.
Kingdom of Montenegro	Illegal
Nepal	Technically Illegal (But not regulated)
Netherlands	Decriminalized	Decriminalized	Illegal	Illegal (exceptions for personal use)	Cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local "coffeeshops" Cannabis coffee shop Coffeeshops are establishments in the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis for personal consumption by the public is tolerated by the local authorities .... , other types of sales and possession are not permitted, although the general legal approach toward cannabis was before de facto decriminalization Decriminalization Decriminalization or Decriminalisation is the abolition of criminal penalties in relation to certain acts, perhaps retroactively, though perhaps regulated permits or fines might still apply . The reverse process is criminalization.Decriminalization reflects changing social and moral views... .
New Zealand	Illegal				Cannabis is scheduled as a Class C substance. Cultivation, possession or sale of cannabis is illegal.
Norway	Illegal				Up to 15 grams is considered an amount for personal use, and is punished with a fine of 1500-5000 kroner Norwegian krone The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"... in the case of first-time offenders; possessing more is considered dealing and punished more harshly. Repeat offenders or dealers face prison charges. It's the same punishment with between 6 months and 2 years for personal use, and between 6 months and 21 years for selling in prison for all narcotic Narcotic The term narcotic originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin and their derivatives, such as hydrocodone. The term is, today, imprecisely... s.
Pakistan	Legal/Illegal				Laws prohibiting the sale and misuse of cannabis exist, but are very rarely enforced. As with hash, the occasional use of cannabis in community gatherings is broadly tolerated as a centuries old custom, despite its association with lower-income groups. The open use of cannabis by Sufis and Hindus as a means to induce euphoria has never been challenged by the state. Further, large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild.
Paraguay	Illegal
Peru	Legal (under certain conditions)				Possession of up to 8 grams (0.28 oz) of marijuana is legal as long as one is not in possession of another drug.
Philippines	Illegal				Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002, makes provision for restricted medical use.
Poland	Illegal				On 26 May 2011, Poland introduced legislation to terminate the prosecution for possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use. The law introduces the possibility when a person has negligible amounts of drugs for personal use and is not a dealer. The legislation raised the maximum possible penalty for placing a large number of drugs from 10 to 12 years in prison. However, for possession of large quantities of drugs would result up to 10 years in prison (previously up to 8 years).
Portugal	Illegal (Decriminalized)				An administrative offense, see Drug policy of Portugal Drug policy of Portugal The drug policy of Portugal was put in place in 2000, to be legally effective from July 2001. The EU had in effect forced the Portuguese government to make radical measures to reduce Portugal's record high incidence of HIV/AIDS. In 1999 Portugal had the highest rate of HIV amongst injecting drug...
Puerto Rico	Illegal				See United States
Kingdom of Romania	Illegal				Romania was (before 1990) a leader in hemp fiber, second only to China. However, possession of small quantities of drug preparations is punishable by a small fine of about $150–200 USD. Possession of large amounts may result in 3–6 years of jail time, and sale may result in more than 6 years jail time. Decriminalization proposed.
Russia	Illegal				Possession of up to 6 grams (dry weight) of cannabis or 2 grams of hashish is punishable by fine. Possession of more than this amount is punishable by prison term.
Saudi Arabia	Illegal				Use and possession for personal use of any kind of recreational drugs is punishable by imprisonment if caught. Imprisonment for personal use could go up to 6 months jail time or more. Dealing and smuggling of high amounts of drugs usually result in harsher prison time or even execution, although recently executions are rare. Foreigners who use drugs might be deported.
Serbia	Illegal
Singapore	Illegal				Cannabis is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, making it illegal to cultivate, sell, or possess.
Slovakia	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal
South Africa	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal
Spain	Illegal (Decriminalized)				Buying and selling cannabis is a criminal offence punishable by law. Possession and consumption at a public place constitutes a misdemeanour and is penalized with a fine and confiscation. Growing the plant on private property for personal use, and consumption by adults in a private space is a constitutional right and hence not illegal.
Sri Lanka	Illegal				Cannabis is illegal in Sri Lanka though it is commonly used in Ayurvedic Ayurveda Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,... traditional medicines.
Sweden	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	It is illegal to sell, transfer, purchase, use or possess any quantity of cannabis. Fines are the most common sanction in matters regarding personal use.
Switzerland	Illegal				Even small amounts are illegal to possess, consume or distribute. However, usually only the minimum penalty is imposed for possession and personal use, even for larger amounts. The federal council has committed to implement changes as to decriminalization of personal use and possession already in 2001, and the parliament is currently tasked to tender concrete approaches. As nothing is coming forth on a parliamentary basis, a referendum was launched in 2008, however abolished by the voters.
Turkey	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal
Republic of China (Taiwan)	Illegal				Cannabis is a schedule 2 narcotic in the ROC, and possession can result in up to 3 years imprisonment.
United Arab Emirates	Illegal				Even the smallest amounts of the drug can lead to a mandatory four year prison sentence.
United Kingdom	Illegal				Cannabis is an illegal, Class B drug (moderate risk) in the UK. Possession of less than 3 grams however, is likely to result in mere confiscation and a written warning.
United States	Illegal (may be used for medicinal purposes in 15 states and the District of Columbia, decriminalized in 12 states)				Laws vary by state, though state law is superseded by federal law which classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance, the same classification as heroin. The United States Supreme Court has ruled in Gonzales v. Raich Gonzales v. Raich Gonzales v. Raich , 545 U.S. 1 , was a decision by the United States Supreme Court ruling that under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, the United States Congress may criminalize the production and use of home-grown cannabis even where states approve its use for medicinal... that the federal government has a right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes. In 2009 the Attorney General directed federal prosecutors to back away from medical marijuana patients in those states with local laws legalizing medical use.
Ukraine	Illegal				"Cannabis is a schedule 2 narcotic in Ukraine, and possession can result in up to 3 years imprisonment."
Uruguay	Legal/Illegal				"Possession for personal use not penalized; law does not specify quantity for "personal amount."
Venezuela	Illegal				As of September 15th, 2010, possession of up to 20 grams of Marijuana or 5 grams of genetically modified Marijuana for personal consumption is punishable by 1 to 2 years in prison at judge's discretion. Articulos 131 y 153 de la Ley Organica de Drogas.
Vietnam	Illegal

See also