Access to or possession of marijuana is regulated by the laws of almost every country in the world. There are few places where the law does not specify any rules or they are ambiguous. The vast majority of countries have carefully developed cannabis policies. Where in the world is marijuana legal in 2024?
To properly answer this question, you need to identify what exactly marijuana law is and what levels of legality or illegality may occur in each country. They can be divided into several categories that take into account various aspects of law or local regulations (fully legal, legal for medical use, legal for possession, production, sale, use in permitted places).
You should also remember that marijuana regulations are changing dynamically in many countries and it is worth updating your knowledge on this subject on an ongoing basis .
Where in the world is marijuana legal in 2024 - full medical and recreational access
This is the highest level of legality that guarantees citizens full access to cannabis. Countries that have decided to take such a step most often want to control the market, benefit from it, and at the same time eliminate the illegal marijuana trade and cut off the sources of income of criminal groups.
Marijuana is legal in 2024: in Canada, Uruguay, the United States (selected states), Luxembourg, Malta (private cultivation is also legal, but it cannot be consumed in public places) and in Germany, where regulations currently apply transitional. Other countries where marijuana is legal and available, but have specific local regulations worth familiarizing yourself with include – Mexico, South Africa, Georgia, Australia (some parts of the country, mainly the capital), Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina , Ecuador, Peru, Netherlands, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Austria.
The legality of smoking or using marijuana for medical and recreational purposes is not always associated with the liberal right to possess it for personal use, production, sale and penalties related to committing a crime or offense (decriminalization).
Germany – a transitional state during the full legalization of marijuana
Currently, Germany is another country preparing to fully legalize marijuana. Smoking it is legal from April 1, you can also smoke it in many public places, and in public spaces you are allowed to have up to 25 g of it, in private homes the permissible limit is 50 g. Private cultivation will be possible, limited to 3 plants. Smoking cannabis will still be illegal in some areas, for example near schools.
Marijuana in the USA – federal and local regulations
Federal law in the US considers marijuana illegal and classified as a substance with a high rate of abuse and no medical indications. However, individual states have the ability to relax certain regulations on several different levels.
For medical use, marijuana is legal in Florida, Hawaii, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Marijuana is allowed for recreational use in New York, Montana, Washington, Nevada, Rhode Island and several other states.
It is also decriminalized in some states - this means that its possession is a misdemeanor rather than a crime, e.g. in Minnesota or Missouri.
Where in the world is marijuana legal, but only for medical use?
Most countries in the world legalize marijuana for medical purposes, but some of them do not allow the simultaneous use of cannabis for recreational purposes. These include: Australia (allows recreational use but in limited locations), Great Britain, Poland, Israel, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Finland, New Zealand, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Lithuania and Norway.
Countries whose laws do not clearly indicate whether marijuana is legal or illegal
There are several countries in the world that have not clearly defined their policies regarding the use of marijuana. This includes Lebanon, where its medical use and cultivation for personal use are allowed, but there are no clear regulations that would indicate the legality of its possession or use for recreational purposes.
Somalia, Syria, and Yemen represent countries where the political situation and prolonged hostilities make it impossible to create such laws. Nepal is one of the countries where there is a ban on the use of marijuana, but it is not enforced and there is a big legal problem related to the country's reforms, which would allow for the correct interpretation of this law by its representatives.
Remember, if you are looking for information on where in the world marijuana is legal recreationally or medically, it is necessary to check the regulations for the specific location where you plan to stay. This also applies to the transport of cannabis, possession of quantities specified by law, documents specifying its source, as well as applicable penalties for breaking the law. Simply determining the legality of marijuana in a given country is insufficient, and unfortunately, ignorance of the law may result in severe consequences .
