Cannabis law varies enormously from one country to the next, from fully legal, through decriminalised or tolerated, to a serious criminal offence. Here's an honest snapshot of where a selection of major countries stand. It's a starting point, not legal advice, and because these laws change often, always check the current rules where you actually are.
Regulated adult use is permitted, though how you can buy or grow it still varies a lot.
Legal nationwide for adults since 2018, sold in licensed shops, with home-growing allowed in most provinces.
Adults can possess and home-grow since 2024 and get cannabis through non-profit "social clubs", but there are still no recreational shops.
The first EU country to legalise (2021): personal possession and home growing for adults, supplied via non-profit associations.
The first country in the world to fully legalise (2013). Available to registered residents through pharmacies, clubs or home growing.
Not simply legal or illegal: decriminalised, tolerated, medical-only, or different from region to region.
Illegal at the federal level, but 24 states and DC allow recreational use and most of the rest allow medical. The rules change at the state line.
Technically illegal, but personal amounts are tolerated and sold in licensed "coffeeshops".
Private personal use and home growing aren't criminal offences, and members-only clubs operate in a grey area, but public use and sale stay illegal.
Personal possession of all drugs was decriminalised in 2001 and treated as a health matter, not a crime, though supply is still illegal.
Recreational cannabis is illegal (Class B). Medical cannabis has been legal since 2018 but is rare on the NHS, mostly via private clinics.
Recreational use is illegal in most of the country, though the ACT (Canberra) permits small personal amounts. Medical cannabis is legal nationwide by prescription.
After a brief decriminalised era, cannabis was restricted back to medical use only in 2025. A doctor's prescription is now required.
Prohibited, and in some places the penalties are severe. Worth knowing before you travel.
Illegal, and personal possession is usually met with an on-the-spot fine. Low-THC CBD products are sold legally.
Illegal and strictly enforced. Recent law changes added penalties for use while allowing some cannabis-derived medicines.
Illegal with some of the harshest penalties in the world, including the death penalty for trafficking.
A snapshot, not legal advice. This is a general overview of a selected set of countries, reviewed September 2026. Cannabis laws, and how strictly they're enforced, change frequently and can differ by region, amount, and whether use is medical or recreational. Always check the current law where you are before relying on any of it. We'll add more countries over time.
In the UK? See UK cannabis law and know your rights for the full detail.