Legality of cannabis by country
From Wiki Weed
The legality of cannabis for general or recreational use varies from country to country. Possession of cannabis is illegal in most countries as a result of the agreement about Indian hemp, also known as hashish, in the International Opium Convention (1925). However, many countries have decriminalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis;
Some states in the US allow use of medical cannabis in state, territorial, Indian reservation, and Federal district laws, although the use is illegal by federal law. Federal agencies claim that federal law comes first.
As of January 2015, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, North Korea, Spain, Uruguay, the U.S. states of Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, the U.S. cities of Portland, and South Portland, both in Maine, and the U.S. Federal District(although blocked) has the most lax laws towards cannabis, while Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates have the most strict laws against cannabis.
List
| Country/Territory | Possession | Sale | Transport | Cultivation | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | no | no | no | |||||
| Algeria | no | no | no | no | Possession is illegal | |||
| Argentina | partial | no | no | no | medical purposes is accepted but not legislated (only in private locations). Cultivating, selling and transporting large amounts is illegal and punishable by present laws. | |||
| Australia | partial (decriminalized in some states) | no | no | One or two plants may be privately grown for personal use in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia. Personal grows of up to two plants are decriminalized in the Northern Territory. | Cannabis in Australia Decriminalized for personal use in small amounts in the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is a criminal offence in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria (Australia)|Victoria and Tasmania. In SA a person can legally grow 1 non-hydroponic plant, and in the ACT 2 non-hydroponic plants may be grown on their own property for personal use, and in the N.T two non-hydroponic plants can be fined $200 with 28 days to pay rather than face criminal charge. Enforcement varies from state to state, With the rapid expansion in hydroponically grown cannabis cultivation, the Australian Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act (1985) was amended in 2006, reducing the amount of cannabis grown indoors under hydroponic conditions that qualifies as a 'commercial quantity' or as a 'large quantity' | |||
| Austria | partial | no | no | no | Possession (which includes the act of smoking) is punishable by prison time of up to 1 year (option of alternative therapy and subsequent waiving of sentence) If it was possessed for personal use the penalty is only up to half a year | |||
| Belgium | no | no | partial | Since 2003 adults over the age of 18, in Belgium, were allowed to possess up to 3 grams. But since the 10th of October it has been made illegal again. | ||||
| Belize | partial | no | no | Cannabis use in Belize is common and largely tolerated; however, possession can result in fines or imprisonment. | ||||
| Bolivia | no | no | no | no | Possession is illegal. | |||
| Botswana | no | no | no | no | Cannabis (or Dagga) is illegal, but this is often unenforced. | |||
| Brazil | partial | no | no | no | The possession of illegal drugs in Brazil, for personal consumption, entails a warning, community service and education on the effects of drug use. The same applies for the planting and/or preparation of small amounts of any illegal drug.
Selling and transportation of any illegal drugs, as well as the possession or cultivation of larger amounts is characterized as drug trafficking, a criminal act punished with 5 to 15 years in prison and a significant fine. | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | no | no | no | All cannabis is illegal | ||||
| Belarus | no | no | no | no | ||||
| Bulgari | no | no | no | Cannabis is class A (High-risk) drug, together with Heroin, Cocaine, [[Amphetamines and MDMA (ecstasy). Until 2004 a loosely defined "personal dose" existed. Since 2006, after the last amendment of the Penal Code, the penalty for possession is 1 to 6 years in prison and a fine between 1,000 and 5,000 euros. For possession with an aim of distribution (drug-dealing) the sentence can range from 2 to 8 years for small amounts, through 3 to 12 years for large amounts, up to 5 to 15 years when executed by an organized criminal group. In these cases the maximum fine to be determined together with the prison time is 50,000 euros. Growing is punishable by 2 to 5 years and a fine up to 5,000 euros. The organizer of a growers group can receive from 10 to 20 years and has to pay a fine up to 100,000 euros and a participant in such a group – 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine of 2,500 to 5,000 euros. | ||||
| Cambodia | partial | partial | partial | partial | While technically illegal, the use of cannabis is widespread among the Khmer people and foreigners visiting the country. Marijuana can easily be purchased and smoked in public areas without the threat of arrest. Many "Happy" restaurants located in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville publicly offer food cooked with marijuana, or as a side garnish. | |||
| Canada | partial | no | no | Legal with government issued licence for medical or industrial purposes. See Legislation: "Controlled Drugs and Substances Act"Template:Main | ||||
| Chile | no | no | no} | partial (Chile plants cannabis for medicinal use) | Personal consumption, possession and cultivation (of any drug) is decriminalized when in private locations. Chilean authorities permits the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes only. In 2014, the Chilean authorities have given a local woman permission to import drugs made from cannabis. | |||
| People's Republic of China | no | no | no | Cannabis is cultivated for its seeds and for fiber, and has a long medicinal history. | ||||
| Colombia | partial | no | (Legal up to 20 plants for personal consumption) | Since 1994, cannabis has been decriminalized for possession of small amounts up to 22 grams for personal consumption, however sale remains illegal. | ||||
| Comoros | no | no | no | no | Cannabis was legal during the Comorian historical period between January 1975 and May 1978, when president Ali Soilih legalized cannabis consumption among other measures | |||
| Costa Rica | partial (decriminalized) | no | no | Template:Partial (decriminalized) | no | no | {{partial (Legal for some farms to grow Hemp) | Class B substance – life imprisonment is possible for use and maximum 8 years for possession (maximum 2 yrs for first offence for under 25 yr old). In practice, warning may be given to a minor unconscious first offender. |
| Czech Republic | partial (decriminalized) | Illegal (purchase legal; sale of medical cannabis legal, otherwise sale illegal) | partial (decriminalized) | partial (decriminalized) | Template:MainPossession of up to fifteen grams for personal use or cultivation of up to five plants is merely a misdemeanor. Popular destination for smokers. Medical use of cannabis on prescription has been legal and regulated since 1 April 2013. | |||
| Denmark | partial, but mostly tolerated | no | no | no | 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 region, is known for its cannabis trade. | |||
| Dominica | no | no | no | no | Class B drug to cultivate, sell or possess | |||
| Ecuador | Template:Partial (decriminalized) | partial(decriminalized) | no | no | no | Up to 7.5 grams is considered an amount for personal use, and is punished with a fine. Large amounts and distribution are criminal offences, and are punishable with a fine or by up to 5 years in prison. | ||
| Ethiopia | no | no | no | no | Despite being the spiritual homeland of the Rastafari movement, possession of cannabis can result in up to 6 months imprisonment. | |||
| Finland | no | no | no | no | Extremely limited group of medicinal users (12 people as of 31 January 2010) are permitted to purchase Sativex mouth spray from one special pharmacy in the city of Turku. | |||
| France | no | no | no | no | Cultivating, selling, owning or consuming cannabis is prohibited. However, legislation was enacted in June 2013 permitting the sale of medications containing cannabis derivatives. | |||
| Germany | no | {no | no | no | The possession is illegal, while consumption itself is legal on the basis of it being considered self-harm, which is not considered a crime. The possession of small amounts is prosecuted, but charges are virtually always dropped. The definition of this "small amount" varies depending on the Federal state (Germany)|federal state, the state of Berlin being the most liberal, allowing 15 grams for personal use in most cases, while most states do not prosecute up to 6 grams. | |||
| Greece | no | no | no | no | Possession or use of even small amounts is illegal in Greece. Individuals are arrested, although rarely convicted by court. Possession of large quantities may lead to several years in prison.
The Government was said to be preparing a bill that would decriminalize the use of drugs in August 2011, but finally the legislation was not changed at all. | |||
| Greenland | no | no | no | |||||
| Hondura | no | no | no | no | The possession, sale, transportation and cultivation of cannabis is illegal in Honduras. | |||
| Hong Kong | no | no | no | no | The possession, sale, transportation, cultivation of cannabis is illegal under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance (Chapter 134 of the Law of Hong Kong). | |||
| Hungary | no | no | no | no | There is no distinction in Hungarian law between illicit drugs according to dangers. Heroin use has the same legal consequences as cannabis use. Hungarian law prohibits the distribution, and any use (including medical use). However the Penal code distinguishes the punishment between sale and personal use. 283. § (1) paragraph (a) states that "One cannot be punished for drug misuse; if a small, personal amount is produced, acquired, or in possession..." and continues to state that "... provided that before final verdict is determined a verification is provided that continuous 6-month therapy has taken place" The law determines that a "personal quantity" is defined as 1 gram of active substance (i.e. THC), therefore this equates to 12–100 grams of marijuana if calculated that marijuana contains 1–8% THC per unit mass. Possession of larger amounts can lead to a 5–10-year prison sentence. | |||
| celand | no | no | no | no | Consumption is illegal even in small amounts. Possession, sale, transportation and cultivation could result in jail time. Possession is not strictly enforced. Heavy fines are given. | |||
| Indonesia | no | no | no | no | Minimum sentence of four years in prison (additional fines may apply) if caught in possession. However, if the user voluntarily reports himself/herself to the police, or is reported by his/her family, the charges will be dropped in accordance to 2009 Narcotics Act, article 24 paragraph 2, 3, 4. | |||
| India | No | No(with government regulated license) | no | no | Used during observance of certain Hindu rituals. Government-owned shops in holy cities like Varanasi sell cannabis in the form of bhang. Despite the high prevalent usage, this law is Illegal but rarely enforced and treated as a low priority across India. Tourist may often be searched by police officers, but usually in the goal of being bribed and not punished. Further, large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild in many parts of northern and southern India in many states such as West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.Many states such as West Bengal, Tripura, and the North East have their own laws allowing cannabis, locally known as ganja. | |||
| Ireland | no | no | no | no | TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan to legalize Cannabis in the country. However the Cannabis Regulation Bill 2013 was defeated by a margin of 111–8 in Dáil Éireann on 6 November.It was the first bill of its kind in a National Parliament in Europe. | |||
| Israel | no | no | no | Very small scale of legal usage of medicinal cannabis. However, personal use is relatively decriminalized with little to no penalties for convicted first time violators. | ||||
| Italy | Template:Partial (decriminalized) Cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local [[Cannabis coffee shop|"coffeeshops" and possession of up to 5 grams for personal use is decriminalized. Other types of sales and transportation are not permitted, although the general legal approach toward cannabis was before de facto decriminalization. | |||||||
| New Zealand | no | no | no | no | Template:See also
Cultivation, possession or sale of cannabis is illegal. The fruit, seeds, and any other part of the plant are scheduled as Class C substances.Hashish, hash oil, THC, and any other preparations containing THC made by processing the plant are scheduled as Class B substances. In July 2009, a bill promoted by [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei amending the law to permit the use of medicinal cannabis was defeated 84–34 at its first reading, with all members of the ruling New Zealand National Party|National Party voting against it. | |||
| North Korea | yes | yes | yes | yes | work=The Huffington Post|accessdate=14 January 2015 | |||
| Northern Mariana Islands | Template:No | no | Legal history of cannabis in the United States|United States}} The governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands approved a bill that decriminalized possesion of marijuana up to an ounce. | |||||
| Zimbabwe | no | no | ||||||
| Country/Territory | Possession | Sale | Transport | Cultivation | Notes |
