Is Cannabis Legal in Ireland?

Thinking of going on a trip to Ireland, or just wanting to learn more about Irish culture and society? You might want to know whether cannabis is legal there.

Of course, there are different types of cannabis with various uses, and each of these different types and uses can be legally regulated in unique ways. We’ll break down everything that you need to know about cannabis in Ireland, including recreational and medicinal cannabis.

Recreational Cannabis

In one sentence, recreational cannabis is not legal in Ireland. Ireland’s National Police and Security Service website explains, “It is an offense to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except [following] a Ministerial Licence.” 

Of course, this does not mean that cannabis is not used recreationally in Ireland, but it is not legal to do so.

THC vs CBD

One important legal distinction is between THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).  Because THC is a psychoactive compound while CBD is not, they are typically regulated differently. This is true in Ireland as well. 

The National Police and Security Service website carves out this difference: “CBD is derived from cannabis. However, since it is not psychoactive, it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation, and does not require a Ministerial Licence.” This means that you may be able to access non-psychoactive CBD products recreationally in Ireland.

THC, however, is controlled and unlawful for recreational use, and so this includes most cannabis products. 

Medical Cannabis 

As is the case in many nations, there is more flexibility with medical cannabis. However, it is still quite limited. While there has not been an all-encompassing legalization of medical cannabis, the use of medical cannabis can be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Minister of Health.

These are a few cases in which medical cannabis usage was approved in Ireland:

Cannabis Oil for Epilepsy in 2016

In 2016, two-year-old toddler Tristan Forde was granted permission to be treated with cannabis oil for his epilepsy. Remarkably, his seizures “virtually stopped” since he began treatment with the cannabis oil. Tristan was also the first person in the country to receive this treatment license!

Cannabis Prescriptions for MS

A very recent article from February 2025 also points to more medical cannabis prescriptions. Specifically, the Irish Examiner summarizes, “Neurologists in Ireland have revealed they are prescribing cannabis-based medicines for symptoms such as pain and spasticity in their patients.” 

In a study done by Trinity College Dublin, the most common condition cited by doctors using this treatment was MS, while epilepsy was also common. 

Cannabis Oil for Epilepsy in 2018

Similarly to the approval that Tristan Ford received in 2016, this case also allowed a child to utilize cannabis oil for the treatment of epilepsy. 

Sophia Gibson, a seven-year-old girl, was given a long-term license to utilize cannabis oil for her epilepsy treatment. Specifically, she was suffering from Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that led to “frequent and dangerous fits.” According to her mother, the cannabis oil dramatically reduced the number of epileptic fits that Sophia was experiencing. 

Sophia’s mother also spoke about how difficult the process was to obtain this license. Her journey included first going to the Netherlands to try and receive treatment. She said, “This decision is a life-changer and a life-saver for Sophia. But no family should have to fight this hard for this long to achieve something that obviously has a benefit. The fight has been exhausting, but the relief is immense.” 

The amount of work and time that Sophia and her family had to put in to receive this approval, as well as the severity of Sophia’s condition, both demonstrate how difficult and strict the licensing for medical cannabis is in Ireland. 

Will Cannabis Law Change in Ireland? 

Wondering whether laws might loosen up in Ireland and if recreational cannabis may become legal? Of course, it’s impossible to predict the future, but we can take a guess. 

The government’s official statement is that recreational cannabis will not be legalized. The National Police and Security Service website made this clear by stating that, “The Government has no plans to legalize cannabis.” For this reason, it is reasonable to assume that there will not be many major changes soon. 

On the other hand, there are also signs pointing to an expansion of cannabis usage in Ireland. In 2023, for example, Northern Ireland’s first legal cannabis vaping lounge opened. However, this is entirely medical cannabis only, not recreational. As political changes take place, so too might changes in cannabis policy.

Final Takeaways

Although recreational cannabis is not legal in Ireland, some medical cannabis is, with more cases and opportunities being approved in recent years. Ultimately, there is very little to suggest that recreational cannabis will be made legal soon, but there is a promising change for medical cannabis.

Of course, there is so much to love about Ireland, but in terms of recreational cannabis, you will likely have to stick with THC-free CBD products if you are visiting!