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Top Five Countries where Cannabis has been Decriminalised
The consumption of cannabis has been decriminalised in varying degrees across the globe. Some countries allow medical use but not recreational use, for example. In other countries, it is technically illegal to use cannabis for personal use, but the act has been decriminalised, meaning offenders will not face harsh penalties.
There is a common myth that the consumption of cannabis is legalised in the Netherlands, but it is in fact only decriminalised. Nevertheless, visitors are able to obtain cannabis based products from certain coffee shops, where they are sold openly. This list provides a scale of the countries where cannabis has been decriminalised, from those where it is completely legal, to those where there are only mild penalties due to decriminalisation.
- Canada
In 2001, the Canadian government legalised cannabis for medical purposes and in 2018, the legalisation was extended to recreational use. In 2019, it became legal to sell edibles. The government is still strict on packaging, meaning products must appear more subdued. This is likely an effort to make the products less attractive to underage people.
The minimum age to buy cannabis varies across the country from 18 to 21. If you are over the minimum age, it is legal to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis. The rule applies to visitors as well.
- Uruguay
Cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational use in Uruguay. In fact, it was the first country to completely legalise cannabis consumption, with the law being passed in 2013. It is legal for Uruguayan citizens and residents who are over the age of 18 to buy up to 40 grams per month.
All Uruguayans have to do is register with the government. Then they can grow their own cannabis or buy it from an authorised pharmacy. Bad news for tourists, though- you cannot legally buy or sell cannabis in Uruguay unless you are a resident or citizen.
- United States
The rules surrounding the consumption of cannabis in the United States are tricky. While both medical and recreational use are illegal at a federal level, multiple states have legalised both uses.
Thirty eight states have legalised medical use, while nineteen have legalised recreational use. These include New York, Washington and California, to name a few. If you’re visiting the US as a tourist you should be mindful of which state you’re in and how heavily cannabis has been decriminalised there.
- South Africa
Cannabis consumption is not illegal in South Africa but it is decriminalised. The plant, known as dagga in Afrikaans, has been decriminalised for private use. This means it can be possessed or grown in private spaces. However, it is federally illegal, meaning that buying, selling or consuming cannabis is public spaces could result in jail time. It is also illegal to consume cannabis around minors or adults who have not consented.
- The Netherlands
The Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, has become a global hotspot for cannabis tourism. Cannabis is not legal in the country; however, it is highly decriminalised. While it is illegal to grow, possess or sell cannabis, some coffee shops have been allowed to sell it, as per the country’s policy of toleration. Residents are permitted to possess 5 grams of cannabis.
Despite the toleration policy being technically restricted to residents of the Netherlands, enforcement of this rule is not particularly common. However, following the pandemic, the government has been pushing to rebrand the country from its drug tourism reputation. This means that non-European Union visitors might soon be banned from consuming cannabis in coffee shops.
