Cannabis regulations across Europe are widely diverse, with each country having its own rules regarding medical and recreational use.
Most countries permit medical cannabis with a prescription but prohibit recreational use. However, there are a few notable exceptions, like Switzerland, which recently became the first European country to regulate adult-use cannabis.
In this article, you’ll gain a better understanding of cannabis regulations overall in Europe and how each of the European countries handles their own regulations surrounding medical and recreational cannabis.
Cannabis regulations in Europe vary widely by country, but most nations allow medical cannabis with a prescription. However, most laws prohibit recreational use.
The European Union (EU) consists of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe, and while the EU doesn’t set specific cannabis laws, it helps member countries work together on drug policies. This leads to varying cannabis laws across Europe, with some countries decriminalizing or partially legalizing cannabis and others strictly prohibiting it.
Unlike the U.S., some European countries view cannabis as a pharmaceutical, reimbursing medical cannabis costs through health insurance, and licensed pharmacists handle cannabis distribution.
But with over 400 million Europeans having access to medical cannabis, Europe outpaces the U.S. in terms of access.
Germany: Germany’s cannabis laws have been complex over the years. While laws mostly banned possession and cultivation, lawmakers legalized medical cannabis in 2017 for patients with severe illnesses. Despite recreational cannabis being illegal, enforcement varied. Some regions, like Berlin, were more lenient with small amounts of cannabis. This inconsistency and confusion in enforcement ultimately led Germany to reconsider its policies and remove cannabis from the list of narcotic substances. Germany legalized recreational cannabis on April 1, 2024. Under the new law, adults (18+) can now possess up to 50g of cannabis at home, 25g in public, and cultivate up to three plants for personal use. People can consume cannabis in public, except within 100 meters of schools, playgrounds, and sports grounds. Additionally, medical cannabis rules have changed—patients no longer need narcotic prescriptions.
Unlike the U.S. dispensary model, Germany began introducing non-profit cannabis clubs starting July 1, 2024. These clubs, limited to 500 members, will allow adults to cultivate and distribute cannabis among themselves, with strict regulations. Members must participate in the cultivation and processing of cannabis, but they cannot consume it on-site.
Netherlands: The Netherlands is often associated with a relaxed approach to cannabis, but its laws remain more complex than they appear. While the country has decriminalized the possession of small amounts for personal use, strict regulations still govern the sale, production, and transportation of cannabis.
Individuals can possess up to 5 grams of cannabis for personal use without facing criminal charges. However, police still have the authority to confiscate cannabis. Cannabis is legally available only in designated coffee shops, which operate under strict regulations. Any other form of sale or transportation of cannabis outside these shops remains illegal.
Authorities tolerate small-scale possession, but they strictly prohibit producing, transporting, and possessing cannabis in bulk outside regulated retail spaces. This means that while consumers can buy cannabis in coffee shops, the suppliers growing and transporting it operate in a legal gray area.
The Dutch government follows a harm-reduction approach, limiting the enforcement of certain cannabis-related offenses while keeping anti-drug laws in place. This policy aims to minimize social harm and regulate cannabis use while still complying with international drug control treaties.
France: Cannabis has been illegal in France since 1953, and the country has strict laws against its sale, production, transportation, and importation. France is also a part of the 1961 international agreement that controls narcotics, which reinforces its stance on cannabis. It banned cannabis as a medical treatment in 1953 but allowed limited use of cannabis-based health products in 1999 through temporary authorizations.
France also launched a medical cannabis pilot program in March 2021, permitting a limited number of registered patients to use cannabis under strict guidelines. Medical cannabis in France is available either as an oral cannabis oil or in dried flower form, which can only be used in a vaporizer. While France has a limited medical cannabis pilot program, the government has not yet fully legalized medical cannabis.
Spain: In Spain, personal use of cannabis is decriminalized, meaning it’s legal to possess and consume up to 100 grams (about 3.5 oz) of cannabis in private. You can also grow up to 10 cannabis plants for personal use. Many people use cannabis through cannabis clubs, which are private groups that operate in a legally gray area. This allows members to consume cannabis in a controlled setting. However, selling or trading cannabis remains illegal.
Spain decriminalized the cultivation of cannabis for personal use back in 2015, but commercial use is still prohibited. While the personal use laws offer some flexibility, any form of cannabis trade or sales remains outside the law.
Denmark: In Denmark, cannabis is illegal for recreational use, but it’s allowed for medical purposes through a pilot program that started in 2018 and was extended for another four years. Despite the law, the local community in Freetown Christiania tolerates cannabis and continues to allow its trade.
Although cannabis use is not technically illegal, the laws around it are inconsistent. Possessing or selling cannabis is illegal under the Danish Narcotic Substances Act, and using it for personal use has been technically a violation since 2016. However, possession of small amounts usually results in a warning or a minor fine. A 2021 law allows only licensed entities to cultivate and produce medical cannabis legally.
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Finland: Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in Finland but is allowed for medical purposes with a special license. The Finnish Criminal Code bans all activities related to cannabis, including production, sale, and possession. While the law is strict, recreational use is sometimes overlooked.
Cannabis became legal for medical use in 2008 in Finland, but its use remains highly restricted. Patients must obtain a prescription from a qualified doctor, and it is usually approved only as a last resort after other treatments fail, with multiple sclerosis patients being the most common recipients. Only around 500 people in Finland can access medical cannabis, and they have limited options such as Sativex or Bedrocan.
Sweden: Sweden is extremely restrictive when it comes to cannabis. Cannabis is completely illegal in Sweden—both for recreational and medical use.
Authorities strictly enforce cannabis possession as a criminal offense, regardless of the intent. Even if someone claims to use cannabis for medical reasons, it does not provide any legal defense.
Poland: Cannabis is legal for medical purposes. However, the law prohibits possessing, selling, transporting, or growing cannabis recreationally, and large quantities can result in trafficking charges. However, prosecutors may drop charges for small amounts.
Medical cannabis has been legal since 2018, allowing doctors to prescribe it for specific conditions. While cannabis was classified as a narcotic in 1951, and its possession became a crime in 1997, Poland rejected proposals to legalize it for either medical or recreational use in 2016.
Starting July 1, 2024, non-commercial cannabis cultivation was finally allowed in associations or cannabis social clubs. However, THC cannabis remains illegal for recreational use due to its classification as a high-risk substance.
Czech Republic: This country has a more progressive stance on medical marijuana use. In the Czech Republic, cannabis is legal for medical use but not recreational use. Medical cannabis has been legal since April 1, 2013, and a doctor can prescribe up to 180 grams (6 ounces) per month. While the law still prohibits recreational use, it decriminalized personal possession on January 1, 2010.
Hungary: Hungary has a strong prohibition stance when it comes to cannabis. Hungary treats cannabis as illegal, including for medical use, and classifies it the same as heroin under the law. This means using cannabis has the same legal consequences as using heroin.
The law prohibits both the use and distribution of cannabis, with harsher penalties for distribution than for personal use. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Single Convention treaty, meaning their government considers it highly addictive and at serious risk for abuse. While countries can allow medical use of Schedule I drugs, Hungary does not permit cannabis for any purpose.
Italy: Medical cannabis is legal in Italy, but regulations are complex. In Italy, doctors may prescribe approved cannabis-based medicines, but the government heavily regulates medical cannabis use. While the law decriminalizes recreational use, authorities treat small personal possession as a civil infraction. If another country authorizes a cannabis-based medicine not approved in Italy, doctors must request special permission to import it.
Although recreational cannabis isn’t available for sale, some companies sell low-THC cannabis products under industrial cannabis laws. These products are marketed with a “not for human use” warning and cannot be smoked, as they are intended for industrial purposes only.
Portugal: In Portugal, cannabis is legal for medical use. Medical cannabis became legal in July 2018 and is available at pharmacies. Portugal decriminalized cannabis in 2001, so possessing enough for personal use isn’t considered a crime. However, exceeding that limit could lead to fines or other charges.
Portugal’s climate and lower labor costs have made it a popular spot for cannabis cultivation, and many growers obtain licenses to take advantage of this. Despite decriminalization, cannabis use has been rising, and the country typically has more moderate to heavy cannabis users than other European nations.
Greece: In Greece, recreational cannabis is illegal, with fines starting at €200 for even small amounts of marijuana possession. However, medical cannabis became legal on February 19, 2024, and patients can now get prescriptions from approved doctors.
The country has implemented an electronic prescription system to make it easier for patients to access their medication, though options remain limited. Right now, most medical cannabis products are in flower form, with tinctures being harder to find.
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