🌍 Legal
International Cannabis Laws
From full federal legalization in Canada to the death penalty in Singapore — cannabis laws vary more dramatically than almost any other substance globally. Know before you travel.
| Country | Status | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Full Legal | 2018 | First G7 nation. Federal Cannabis Act. 30g public possession. |
| Uruguay | Full Legal | 2013 | First country to fully legalize. Government controlled. Citizens only. |
| Germany | Full Legal | 2024 | Adults 18+, 25g public, 50g home, home grow 3 plants. No commercial sales yet. |
| Malta | Full Legal | 2021 | First EU nation. 7g public, home grow 4 plants. No commercial dispensaries. |
| Luxembourg | Full Legal | 2023 | Home grow only. No commercial sales. Age 18+. |
| Netherlands | Decrim/Tolerated | 1976 | Coffeeshops legal in practice. Cultivation still illegal. |
| Portugal | Decriminalized | 2001 | All drugs decriminalized (not legal). Up to 10-day supply for personal use. |
| Switzerland | Decriminalized | 2012 | Under 10g decriminalized. Pilot regulated sales program launched 2023. |
| Czech Republic | Decriminalized | 2010 | Up to 10g. Medical legal since 2013. |
| Spain | Decriminalized | 1992 | Private use/grow legal. Cannabis clubs operate in gray area. |
| Israel | Medical | 1992 | Medical since 1992; decrim for personal use 2017. Major research hub. |
| Australia | Medical | 2016 | Federal medical legal. ACT territory decrim for personal use. |
| New Zealand | Medical | 2020 | Medical legal. Recreational referendum 2020 narrowly failed (53.4% no). |
| Thailand | Partial | 2022 | Removed from narcotics list 2022 then partially reversed 2024. Evolving. |
| United Kingdom | Medical Only | 2018 | Medical via specialist prescription only. Recreational Class B, 5yr max. |
| Japan | Prohibited | 1948 | Zero tolerance. Possession = up to 5 years. Very strictly enforced. |
| Singapore | Prohibited | 1973 | Among strictest globally. Trafficking can carry death penalty. |
| UAE | Prohibited | — | Zero tolerance. Possession = 4+ years minimum. Foreign nationals deported. |
⚠️ Travel Warning: Never travel internationally with cannabis. Customs laws are the most strictly enforced, and even trace amounts can result in serious criminal charges in many countries. Singapore, Japan, UAE, and Indonesia carry severe penalties including lengthy prison sentences.
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