Legality of cannabis

The legality of cannabis varies widely around the world, ranging from legalization for medical and recreational use in some countries to strict prohibition in others. Changes in laws reflect shifting attitudes towards cannabis, influenced by research on its medical benefits and the economic potential of legal cannabis markets.

Legal Cannabis Countries

• Uruguay legalized cannabis in late 2013.
• Residents over 18 can buy cannabis by registering with authorities.
• Non-profit Cannabis Clubs can operate.
• Cultivation allowed for up to six plants.
• Cannabis Social Clubs can have up to 45 members.

Medical Cannabis Laws Countries

• Turkey allows medical cultivation in 19 provinces.
• Parliament in Turkey passed a bill to legalize medical cannabis in 2023.
• In the UK, limited medical use has been legal since November 2018.
• Cannabis-derived medicines in the UK require a specialist consultant’s prescription.
• In the US, 24 states have legalized cannabis for medical use.

Illegal Cannabis Laws Countries

• Tunisia banned cannabis in 1953.
• Possessing cannabis in Tunisia can lead to 1–5 years imprisonment.
• UAE enforces a mandatory 4-year prison sentence for even small amounts of cannabis.
• Cannabis is illegal in Uzbekistan.
• Vatican City and Venezuela also have strict laws against cannabis.

Decriminalized Cannabis Countries

• The UK issues cannabis warnings or fines for simple possession.
• In the US, 7 states have decriminalized cannabis.
• Cannabis is decriminalized in 38 US states but remains illegal at the federal level.
• The US federal government generally does not intervene in states that have legalized cannabis.
• Rohrabacher–Farr amendment protects medical cannabis in the US from federal enforcement.

Uncertain Cannabis Laws Countries

• Turkey allows medical cultivation with permission in all provinces.
• The UK allows cannabis-derived medicines only with a specialist consultant’s prescription.
• In the US, the legality of cannabis varies by state and federal laws.
• Parliament in Turkey passed a bill to legalize medical cannabis in 2023.
• The US federal government has not intervened in states that legalized cannabis.

Legality of cannabis Data Sources