Legality of cannabis

Legal status of cannabis possession for non-medical use

---

  Legal

  Illegal but decriminalized

  Illegal but often unenforced

  Illegal

---

See also countries that have legalized medical use of cannabis.

The legality of cannabis for medical and recreational use varies by country, in terms of its possession, distribution, and cultivation, and (in regards to medical) how it can be consumed and what medical conditions it can be used for. These policies in most countries are regulated by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs that was ratified in 1961, along with the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

The use of cannabis for recreational purposes is prohibited in most countries; however, many have adopted a policy of decriminalization to make simple possession a non-criminal offense (often similar to a minor traffic violation). Others have much more severe penalties such as some Asian and Middle Eastern countries where possession of even small amounts is punished by imprisonment for several years.

Uruguay and Canada are the only sovereign states that have fully legalized the consumption and sale of recreational cannabis nationwide. In the United States, ten states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of cannabis although it remains federally illegal. Laws vary from state to state when it comes to the commercial sale. Court rulings in Georgia and South Africa have led to the legalization of cannabis consumption, but not legal sales. A policy of limited enforcement has also been adopted in many countries, in particular Spain and the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis is tolerated at licensed establishments.

Countries that have legalized the medical use of cannabis include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Switzerland, and Thailand. Others have more restrictive laws that only allow the use of certain cannabis-derived pharmaceutical drugs, such as Sativex, Marinol, or Epidiolex. In the United States, 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis, but at the federal level its use remains prohibited for any purpose.

By country

Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Afghanistan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Afghanistan Production banned by King Zahir Shah in 1973.
Albania	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Albania Prohibited but plants highly availabile throughout the country and law often unenforced.
Algeria	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Algeria
Andorra	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Andorra
Angola	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Angola
Antigua and Barbuda	Decriminalized	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina	Decriminalized	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Argentina Decriminalized for small amounts and private consumption, the Supreme Court ruled in 2009. Medicinal cannabis legal nationally since 21 September 2017.
Armenia	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Armenia
Australia	Decriminalized for personal use in the Northern Territory, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory	Legal at federal level and in all states. Qualifying conditions and other details vary by state.	Main article: Cannabis in Australia
Austria	Possession for personal use decriminalized as of January 2016.	Cannabis-derived drugs	Main article: Cannabis in Austria
Azerbaijan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Azerbaijan
Bahamas	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in the Bahamas
Bahrain	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Bahrain
Bangladesh	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Bangladesh Sale banned in 1989, but laws are rarely enforced and cannabis is openly sold in many parts of the country.
Barbados	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Barbados
Belarus	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Belarus
Belgium	Decriminalized up to 3 g or cultivation of one plant	Cannabis-derived drugs	Main article: Cannabis in Belgium Up to 3 g legal for adults since 2003.
Belize	Decriminalized up to 10 g	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Belize Possession prohibited, but use is common and largely tolerated. Possession of up to 10 g decriminalized "in the works".
Benin	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Benin
Bermuda	Decriminalized up to 7 g	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Bermuda In November 2016, the Supreme Court of Bermuda ruled in favor of allowing the medical use of cannabis. As of July 2018, two doctors have been licensed to prescribe the drug.
Bhutan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Bhutan Illegal, but plants grow prolifically and have multiple traditional uses, such as feeding pigs and producing textiles.
Bolivia	Decriminalized up to 50 g	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Bosnia and Herzegovina In 2016 it was announced that the Ministry of Civil Affairs had formed a task force to explore the legalizing of cannabis and cannabinoids for medicinal purposes.
Botswana	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Botswana Cannabis (or dagga) is illegal.
Brazil	Illegal (educational measures for small amounts and private use)	Sativex	Main article: Cannabis in Brazil Possession of any illegal drug entails a warning, community service, and education on the effects of drug use. Sale, transportation, cultivation, and possession of large amounts are considered drug trafficking.
Brunei	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Brunei
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Bulgaria	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Bulgaria Cannabis is classified as a class A (High-risk) drug, together with Heroin, Cocaine, Amphetamines, and MDMA (ecstasy). Until 2004, a loosely defined "personal dose" existed.
Burkina Faso	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Burkina Faso
Burundi	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Burundi
Cambodia	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Cambodia Illegal, but this prohibition is lax and enforced opportunistically. "Happy" restaurants in cities publicly offer food cooked with marijuana, or as a side garnish.
Cameroon	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Cameroon
Canada	Legal	Legal	Main articles: Cannabis in Canada and Cannabis laws of Canada by province or territory Legal for medicinal purposes since 2001 and for recreational purposes since 2018. Age and regulations of consumption vary by province.
Cape Verde	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Cape Verde
Central African Republic	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in the Central African Republic
Chad	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Chad
Chile	Decriminalized for possession and cultivation	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Chile Private personal use and recreational cultivation decriminalized. Medicinal cultivation legal with the authorization of The Chilean Agriculture Service (SAG) and sale of medication allowed on prescription in pharmacies.
People's Republic of China (PRC)	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in China
Colombia	Decriminalized up to 22 g or cultivation of 20 plants for personal use	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Colombia Decriminalized up to 22 g for personal consumption. Individuals carrying greater amounts, or cultivating up to 20 plants, cannot be prosecuted if the drug is for personal use.
Comoros	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Comoros Cannabis was legal during the Comorian historical period between January 1975 and May 1978, when president Ali Soilih legalized cannabis consumption among other measures.
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in the Republic of the Congo
Costa Rica	Decriminalized	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Costa Rica Decriminalization 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. Use of cannabis is widespread throughout the country.
Croatia	Decriminalized	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Croatia Possession of small amounts considered a misdemeanor which leads to fine. Medicinal cannabis legal for patients with illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or AIDS.
Cuba	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Cuba
Cyprus	Illegal	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Cyprus Class B substance – life imprisonment is possible for use and maximum 8 years for possession (at the maximum 2 years for the first offence for under 25-year-olds).
Czech Republic	Decriminalized up to 10 g or cultivation of 5 plants	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in the Czech Republic Possession of up to 15 g or cultivation of up to 5 plants is a misdemeanor subject to minor fine - mostly not enforced. Popular destination for smokers. Medicinal use legal and regulated since 2013.
Denmark	Illegal	Legal (4-year pilot program beginning in January 2018)	Main article: Cannabis in Denmark As with all drugs, cannabis-related offences are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years. Freetown Christiania, a self-declared autonomous community in Copenhagen, is known for its cannabis trade.
Djibouti	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Djibouti
Dominica	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Dominica Class B drug to cultivate, sell, or possess.
Dominican Republic	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in the Dominican Republic
East Timor	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in East Timor
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Ecuador	Decriminalized up to 10 g	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Ecuador Possession of small amounts decriminalized. Possession of under 10 g is considered personal use and not punished.
Egypt	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Egypt Illegal since 1925 but use is widespread. Convictions for personal use are rare. Formerly a plant of high status with several documented medicinal uses in ancient times.
El Salvador	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Eritrea
Estonia	Decriminalized	With a special permit	Main article: Cannabis in Estonia Up to 7.5 g is considered an amount for personal use, and is punished with a fine. Large amounts and distribution are criminal offences punishable with a custodial sentence of up to 5 years.
Ethiopia	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Ethiopia Despite being the spiritual homeland of the Rastafari movement, possession of cannabis can result in up to six months imprisonment.
Fiji	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Fiji
Finland	Illegal but sometimes not enforced	Legal under license.	Main article: Cannabis in Finland Personal use is generally not prosecuted in court but subject to summary fine. Medicinal cannabis possible under a special license since 2006; in 2014, 223 licenses were issued.
France	Illegal	Some cannabis-derived drugs.	Main article: Cannabis in France Possession reduced to 200€ fine in November 2018. Medical use of some cannabinoid drugs legalized in 2013.
Gabon	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Gabon
Gambia	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in the Gambia
Georgia	Legal for possession and consumption but not for sale, per a July 2018 ruling by the Constitutional Court of Georgia.	Use is legal, but no system for the dispensing of cannabis exists.	Main article: Cannabis in Georgia (country)
Germany	Illegal, but occasionally tolerated. Under federal law, prosecution is optional for possession of "small amounts".	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Germany Recreational possession illegal, but criminal charges are sometimes dropped. Consumption itself considered legal self-harm, but driver's licenses are almost always suspended, regardless of whether a car was used under the influence. Since early 2017, medicinal use is legal for seriously ill patients, who have consulted with a doctor and have absolutely no therapeutic alternative.
Ghana	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Ghana
Greece	Illegal	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Greece
Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Greenland
Grenada	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Grenada
Guatemala	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Guatemala In 2016 a constitutional commission rejected proposals to legalize medicinal or recreational use of cannabis.
Guinea	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Guinea
Guinea-Bissau	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Guinea-Bissau
Guyana	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Guyana Possession of 15 g or over can result in charges of drug trafficking.
Haiti	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Haiti
Honduras	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Honduras The possession, sale, transportation, and cultivation of cannabis is illegal in Honduras.
Hong Kong	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Hong Kong The possession, sale, transportation, cultivation of cannabis is illegal under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance. (Chapter 134 of the Law of Hong Kong)
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Hungary	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Hungary There is no distinction in Hungarian law between illicit drugs according to dangers. Heroin use has the same legal consequences as cannabis use.
Iceland	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Iceland Banned in 1969. Possession of small amounts is subject to arrest and fine but no threat of jail time.
India	Illegal, but exception is made for the use of bhang.	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in India Albeit illegal, usage is prevalent and some government-owned shops sell cannabis in the form of bhang. States have their own laws regarding cannabis, locally known as ganja.
Indonesia	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Indonesia Banned in 1927. Minimum sentence of 4 years in prison (additional fines may apply) if caught in possession. However, if the user is underage, they may instead be sentenced to rehabilitation.
Iran	Illegal, but not strictly enforced	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Iran
Iraq	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Iraq
Ireland	Illegal	May be licensed.	Main article: Cannabis in Ireland 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.
Israel	Decriminalized	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Israel As of April 2019, public possession of small amounts is a non-criminal offense punished by escalating fines. A third offense can result in criminal charges, however. Possession in the privacy of one's home is not punished.
Italy	Decriminalized; allowed for religious usage, legal below 0.6% THC	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Italy Possession of small amounts for personal use is a misdemeanor subject to fines and the suspension of documents (passports or driver's licenses). Sale and cultivation punishable by imprisonment, even if in small amounts and for exclusive personal use. Licensed cultivation for medicinal and industrial use strictly regulated.
Ivory Coast	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Ivory Coast
Jamaica	Decriminalized up to 2 oz or cultivation of 5 plants. Legal for Rastafari.	Legal	Main article: Cannabis in Jamaica Decriminalized since 2015, and in 2018 the first medical cannabis dispensary opened.
Japan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Japan Restricted in 1948. Use and possession are punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine. Cultivation, sale, and transport are punishable by 7–10 years imprisonment and a fine.
Jordan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Jordan
Kazakhstan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Kazakhstan
Kenya	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Kenya
Kiribati	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Kiribati
Kosovo	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Kosovo
Kuwait	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Kyrgyzstan
Laos	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Laos
Latvia	Illegal	Illegal	Main article: Cannabis in Latvia Cannabis is illegal. Possession of up to one gram can result in a fine of €280, for second offences within a year period criminal charges are applied. Larger quantities can be punished with up to 15 years in prison.
Lebanon	Illegal	Illegal	Hashish banned in 1926; cannabis cultivation banned in 1992. 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.
Lesotho	Illegal but tolerated	Illegal	Licensed cultivation allowed for export to other countries. Also widely grown for illicit purposes.
Liberia	Illegal	Illegal
Libya	Illegal	Illegal
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Liechtenstein	Illegal	Illegal
Lithuania	Illegal	Legal	A bill to legalize medical use of cannabis was passed by the Seimas on 11 October 2018.
Luxembourg	Decriminalized	Legal	Transportation and consumption are illegal. Since 2001, decriminalized and prison penalty has been substituted by a monetary fine ranging from €250 to €2,500.
Macau, SAR of China	Illegal	Illegal
Madagascar	Illegal	Illegal
Malaysia	Illegal	Illegal	Mandatory death penalty for convicted drug traffickers, legally defined as individuals possessing more than 200 g (7 oz) of cannabis.
Malawi	Illegal	Illegal	Illegal but widely used and cultivated; Malawian cannabis is famed internationally for its quality. Chamba is grown mainly in central and northern regions like Mzuzu.
Maldives	Illegal	Illegal
Mali	Illegal	Illegal
Malta	Decriminalized up to 3.5 g	Legal	As of 2015, simple possession is decriminalized, but remains an arrestable offense for the police purpose of collecting intelligence about drug trafficking. Cultivation for personal use will no longer be punishable by a mandatory prison sentence or suspended sentence.
Marshall Islands	Illegal	Illegal
Mauritania	Illegal	Illegal
Mauritius	Illegal	Illegal
Mexico	De facto legal for personal use, regarding both possession and cultivation.	Legal for medical use, THC content below 1%.	Possession of 5 g decriminalized since 2009. In 2015 the Supreme 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 2018 the Supreme Court reaffirmed the ruling, effectively making the law prohibiting cannabis unenforceable and requiring the legislature to act to formally legalize.
Micronesia	Illegal	Illegal
Moldova	Decriminalized	Illegal
Monaco	Illegal	Illegal
Mongolia	Illegal	Illegal
Montenegro	Illegal	Illegal
Morocco	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal	All drugs banned since 1974, but cannabis is partially tolerated. Morocco is still among the world's top producers of hashish.
Mozambique	Illegal	Illegal
Myanmar	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal
Namibia	Illegal	Illegal	Cannabis is illegal; in 2007 the government proposed but declined a 20-year jail sentence for any drug possession.
Nepal	Illegal (legal during Maha Shivaratri)	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.
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Netherlands	Illegal – but use and sale is tolerated in licensed coffeeshops. Possession of up to 5 g is decriminalized. Cultivation of up to 5 plants is unenforced for non-commercial use (unless grown in a professional setup).	Legal	Personal possession decriminalized and sale allowed only in certain licensed coffeeshops in the continental Netherlands. Cultivation often tolerated but growers can still have their plants and equipment confiscated and face eviction or cancellation of their mortgage for one single plant. Zero tolerance policy in the Caribbean Netherlands.
New Zealand	Illegal (Legalization referendum to be held in 2020)	Legal	Banned in 1927. Medical use was legalized in December 2018, and a binding referendum on recreational use is to be held during the 2020 general election.
Nicaragua	Illegal	Illegal
Niger	Illegal	Illegal
Nigeria	Illegal	Illegal
North Korea (DPRK)	Unknown	Unknown	There are conflicting reports on the legal status of cannabis in North Korea. Multiple reports from defectors and tourists claim there is no law regarding the possession of cannabis (as a result, it is not classified as a drug) in North Korea or if there is, it is mostly unenforced. However, other reports claim that cannabis is illegal.
North Macedonia	Illegal	Legal	If one possesses a larger amount, a jail sentence of anywhere from 3 months to 5 years may be given. Medicinal cannabis legalized since 2016.
Norway	Currently illegal (in process of decriminalization)	Legal	Personal use of up to 15 g punished with a fine and a criminal record in the case of first-time offenders; possessing more and second offences is punished more harshly. Minors are routinely compelled to consent to regular supervised drug testing under threat of prosecution. In March 2018, the government created a working group tasked with decriminalizing drug use and mandating police to impose forced medical treatment of addicts instead of fines and imprisonment.
Oman	Illegal	Illegal
Pakistan	Illegal, but often unenforced (particularly in some tribal regions)	Illegal	Prohibited, but the smoking of hashish in Peshawar and the northern parts of Pakistan tends to be tolerated. One may be sent to jail for up to six months if found with charas in other parts of the country.
Palau	Illegal	Illegal
Panama	Illegal	Illegal
Papua New Guinea	Illegal	Illegal
Paraguay	Decriminalized up to 10 g	Illegal	Possession of up to 10 g not punished.
Peru	Decriminalized	Legal	Possession of up to 8 g is not punished. Cultivation, production, and sale are punished with 8–15 years in prison.
Philippines	Illegal	Illegal but may be allowed with special permit	Medical use of cannabis is possible with a special permit from the Food and Drugs Authority for use by individuals with serious or terminal illness.
Poland	Illegal, but sometimes not enforced for small amounts, legal below 0.2% THC	Legal	Since 2011, prosecutors can choose not to prosecute possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use, if it is a first offence, or if the person is drug dependent. Possession of large quantities of drugs can result in up to 10 years in prison.
Portugal	Decriminalized up to 25 g of herb or 5 g of hashish	Legal	In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the use of all drugs.
Qatar	Illegal	Illegal
Romania	Illegal	Cannabis-derived drugs, less than 0.2% THC, all CBD based products are legal	Small quantities punishable by a large fine for first offenders or 6 months to 2 years in prison if the person has been convicted before. Possession of large amounts or trafficking is punishable by 2–7 years of jail time. Decriminalization proposed. Limited medical use approved in 2013.
Russia	Possession up to 6 g of cannabis (or 2 g of hashish) is an administrative (non-criminal) offense.	Illegal	Possession up to 6 g of cannabis (or 2 g of hashish) leads to an administrative fine up to RUB 5,000 or detention up to 15 days. Foreign nationals and stateless individuals who violate the law are subject to deportation regardless of the amount.
Rwanda	Illegal	Illegal
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Illegal	Illegal
Saint Lucia	Illegal	Illegal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Illegal	Illegal
Samoa	Illegal	Illegal
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
San Marino	Illegal	Legal
São Tomé and Príncipe	Illegal	Illegal
Saudi Arabia	Illegal	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 six 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.
Senegal	Illegal	Illegal
Serbia	Illegal	Illegal	Possession punishable by fine or imprisonment of up to 3 years. Sale and transportation punishable by 3–12 years imprisonment. Cultivation punishable by imprisonment from 6 months to 5 years. Higher penalties for organized crime.
Seychelles	Illegal	Illegal
Sierra Leone	Illegal	Illegal	Cannabis banned in 1920.
Singapore	Illegal	Illegal	Banned in 1870. Cannabis is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, making it illegal to cultivate, sell, or possess. Those who are caught with 500g of cannabis or more, are presumed as drug traffickers, and are punished with a possible death penalty.
Slovakia	Illegal	Illegal	Possession of small amounts punishable by up to 8 years in prison. In April 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported that Robert Fico, the incoming Slovak prime minister, might push for partial legalisation of cannabis possession, and has argued for the legalisation of possession of up to three doses of cannabis for personal use.
Slovenia	Decriminalized	Cannabis-based drugs	Cannabis-based drugs are legal for medicinal use, but not cannabis itself. Possession of any drug for personal use is decriminalized.
Solomon Islands	illegal	illegal
Somalia	Illegal	Illegal
South Africa	Legal for possession and cultivation but not for sale.	Use is legal, but no system for the dispensing of medicinal cannabis exists.	Private use and cultivation decriminalized since 2018.
South Korea	Illegal	Legal, but access limited to Epidiolex, Marinol and Sativex as of now due to the policy implemented by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety	Medical use of cannabis was legalized in November 2018. The plant itself, however, remains unavailable despite legislation due to the policy made by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
South Sudan	Illegal	Illegal
Spain	Use and possession in private areas allowed. Public consumption can result in a fine from 601 to 30000 €. Cultivation for personal use allowed in private areas including Cannabis Social Clubs.	Limited cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals	Sale and importation punishable by jail time. All actions related to cannabis apart from sale or trade aren't considered criminal offenses, but misdemeanors punishable by a fine. Legalized in Catalonia in 2017, but that law was challenged by the state and declared unconstitutional. Cultivation allowed in private areas if the plants cannot be seen from the street or other public spaces.
Sri Lanka	Illegal	Legalized by amendment made in colonial law by 1980s and through the Ayurveda Act.	The sale of cannabis is decriminalized for traditional medicine vendors and it is commonly used in Ayurvedic traditional medicines.
Sudan	Illegal	Illegal
Suriname	Illegal	Illegal	Cannabis was banned in Suriname in the early 20th century, having been popularized there by Asian immigrants.
Swaziland	Illegal	Illegal
Sweden	Illegal	Illegal	All cannabis-related activity illegal. The national police runs a "disturb and annoy" program aimed at users supported by the national "zero tolerance" policy.
Switzerland	Decriminalized	Legal	Since 2012, possession of 10 g or less is decriminalized to a fine.
Syria	Illegal	Illegal	Reportedly punished by life imprisonment under Bashar al-Assad's government policies. As a result of civil war, people living in areas controlled by Kurdish separatists have begun growing cannabis as a way of making money to fight poverty.
Taiwan (Republic of China, ROC)	Illegal	Illegal	Cannabis is a schedule 2 narcotic in the ROC, and possession can result in up to 3 years imprisonment.
Tajikistan	Illegal	Illegal
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes
Tanzania	Illegal	Illegal
Thailand	Illegal but often unenforced	Legal	Criminalized in 1935. Possession, cultivation, and transport (import/export) of up to 10 kg of cannabis may result in a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison or a fine. Medical use was made legal in 2018.
Togo	Illegal	Illegal
Tonga	Illegal	Illegal
Trinidad and Tobago	Illegal	Illegal	Banned in 1925.
Tunisia	Illegal	Illegal	Banned in 1953. Using or possessing entails 1–5 years of imprisonment + 1000-3000 dinars (around 500$-1500$).
Turkey	Illegal	Cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals	Medical cultivation legal in nineteen provinces. With permission, this can also be conducted in other provinces as well. Consuming any drug is illegal and requires juridical process. Possessing, purchasing, or receiving any illegal drug is punishable by 1–2 years of prison, treatment, or probation. Sale and supply is punishable by a prison term of 5–10 years, and production or trafficking by a minimum term of 10 years.
Turkmenistan	Illegal	Illegal
Tuvalu	Illegal	Illegal
Uganda	Illegal	Illegal
Ukraine	Illegal	Illegal	Possession of up to 5 g or cultivation of 10 plants is an administrative (rather than a criminal) offense, but detention of up to 15 days is still possible.
United Arab Emirates	Illegal	Illegal	Even the smallest amounts of the drug can lead to a mandatory 4-year prison sentence.
United Kingdom	Illegal	Legal for cases of severe epilepsy, vomiting, or nausea caused by chemotherapy or multiple sclerosis when prescribed by a registered specialist doctor.	Banned in 1928, made a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
United States	Legal in 10 states, 2 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia – but illegal at federal level. Decriminalized in another 15 states and 1 U.S. territory.	Legal in 33 states, 4 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia – but illegal at federal level.	Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug at federal level, prohibiting even its medical use. The Rohrabacher–Farr amendment prevents federal enforcement in states that have legalized medical, however. No such protections exist regarding recreational, but the federal government has so far generally not intervened. Recognized Indian reservations are allowed to legalize for either use under a policy announced in 2014.
Uruguay	Legal, but buying prohibited for foreigners. Cultivation allowed up to six plants.	Legal for all uses.	Legal since late 2013. Buyers must be eighteen or older, residents of Uruguay, and must register with the authorities. Authorities grow the cannabis that can be sold legally.
Uzbekistan	Illegal	Illegal	Opiates, cannabis and other plants containing psychotropic substances are illegal.
Vanuatu	Illegal	Legal
Vatican City	Illegal	Illegal
Venezuela	Illegal	Illegal	Possession of up to 20 g of marijuana or 5 g of genetically modified marijuana for commercial purposes is punishable by 1–2 years in prison at judge's discretion. If deemed to be for personal consumption, the user is subject to security measures involving rehabilitation and detoxification procedures.
Vietnam	Illegal but often unenforced	Illegal
Yemen	Illegal	Illegal
Zambia	Illegal	Illegal
Zimbabwe	Illegal	Legal
Country/Territory	Recreational	Medical	Notes

See also

• Annual cannabis use by country
• Adult lifetime cannabis use by country
• Cannabis Social Club
• Drug liberalization
• Illegal drug trade
• International Narcotics Control Board
• Latin American drug legalization
• Minors and the legality of cannabis
• Timeline of cannabis law
• War on drugs