Where in the World Weed is 100% Legalized?

Canada

The Great White North legalized weed in 2018. With that, it became the first major industrialized country to go fully green. While it's possible to buy legal weed everywhere in Canada, each province has specific rules on where to make purchases. There are over 3,000 shops, government-run, private, or a hybrid of the two. 

In Canada, you can legally possess, carry and share 30 grams of cannabis (that's almost 70 pre-rolled joints), given that you are of legal age. Depending on where you are in the country, the cost for this amount of weed is between 150 and 400 Canadian dollars. 

Georgia, the country

The country of Georgia stretches between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Officially, weed is legal in Georgia, but it's not in the same boat as say legal countries like Canada. 

Rarely mentioned as a cannabis destination, Georgia is legal in terms of possession and use because of a ruling of the country's Constitutional Court back in 2018. The court ruled that punishing a person for using marijuana interferes with individual freedoms. Now, that's pretty amazing.

Georgia is the only country within the former Soviet block to support legal weed. But to make it clear, the only legal thing is consumption. Growing, selling, or giving weed to someone may still result in serious legal repercussions. 

Malta

The first inroad to fully legal cannabis in Europe was made by Malta at the end of last year, 2021. Malta is an island country, one of the smallest by territory members of the European Union. 

The island nation outraced a few other European countries preparing to legalize the adult-use market alongside medical, such as Luxembourg and Germany. Maltese law allows adults 18 and above to possess up to 7 grams of cannabis, store up to 50 grams and grow up to 4 cannabis plants at home. 

Mexico

There has been a lot of drama, a lot of back-and-forth between lawmakers until Mexico finally legalized weed in 2021. However, the status of marijuana still floats in the air. Mexico struggles to finalize regulations on sales and incarceration. The country also faces the burden of very much active criminal network and drug cartels. 

Once Mexico polishes its legal weed law, it's poised to become the world's largest legal market in terms of population. For now, it's safe to carry up to 5 grams of cannabis for any purpose, medical or recreational. If you are traveling to Mexico, a word of advise is to smoke in a private area. Despite the legal status, police is still practicing enforcement. 

Thailand

Thai officials boldly experimented with changing their cannabis laws. A country known for harsh laws and penalties suddenly allowed a thriving marijuana economy on the streets. You can go and buy weed whenever you want. Not only flower for smoking but also plenty of other creative products such as cannabis tea or toothpaste. 

But this heaven on earth might not last forever since some of the country's lawmakers are pursuing tighter regulation on sales and accessibility of weed. 

Uruguay

The South American country was the first in the world to legalize weed. Cannabis is legal for anyone aged above 18, as well as small amounts of other usually controlled substances. Users are only asked to officially register with the government before they decide to buy, sell or grow. With commercial weed also available in regular pharmacies, Uruguay is an example of how free access to weed could function anywhere in the world. 

The USA: 21 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia

States across the U.S. are increasingly ignoring federal law that prohibits marijuana. In 2022, six states joined the list of states with fully legal adult use markets: Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, Vermont, Rhode Island, and New York. 

Laws in the U.S. differ from state to state. While some jurisdictions also allow homegrowing for personal use, others don't. Cannabis flower and other products can be bought in legal dispensary shops, some of which are social equity businesses. 

While legal states in the U.S. have lots of freedoms on consumption and cultivation, transporting weed between states is not allowed. 

The Australian Capital Territory of Australia

Medical marijuana has been legal in Australia for more than five years now. The Land Down Under is a world leader in research and commercialization of MMJ. The status of recreational use of weed is still not settled, although possessing small amounts is decriminalized in most territories. But if you go to the Australia Capital Territory (ACT), which houses the capital of Canberra, the rules are different. 

If you are 18 and over in the ACT, you can possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis or up to 150 fresh plant material. A person can cultivate up to two cannabis plants, with a maximum of four plants per household. You can only smoke at home, for personal use. 

Where It's Not Quite Legal, But Okay to Chill?

There are a few more countries where the recreational use of cannabis has not been entirely regulated by law. Still, if you do it discreetly or carry small amounts of weed, it most likely won't lead to repercussions. 

Jamaica 

Cannabis was decriminalized in Jamaica in 2015, and in case you are a Rastafarian, you can use as much weed as you want without fear of legal consequences. When you go to the beach, there's a great chance that a friendly stranger approaches you and offer some sun-bathed local herbs. 

Portugal

Portugal decriminalized all drugs back in 2001 in a bid to tamper down a severe opioid crisis. Today, the use of drugs carries the risk of getting a fine or referral to "substance abuse treatment." Such a policy has significantly helped Portugal. The country used to have some of the highest levels of substance addiction and abuse during the 1990s. Now back to our subject, you are free to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis at a time, which should be more than enough.

South Africa

Cannabis remains federally illegal in the mother country of Durban Poison. However, South Africa has decriminalized weed for personal at-home consumption by persons of legal age. So, smoking indoors won't lead to any unwanted attention. 

The Netherlands 

Many of the world's most cherished cannabis cultivars originate from the Netherlands. Cannabis has been legal to purchase and smoke in Amsterdam coffee shops since the 1970s, although the city is now trying to rebrand and distance itself from being the most popular cannabis tourism destination around the globe. While the Netherlands has still not fully legalized Cannabis (imagine that! most of us think the opposite), police enforcement on personal consumption is rarely, if ever, practiced. 

A list of other countries where it's pretty safe to wake and bake: 

• Argentina
• Belgium
• Cambodia
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Ecuador
• Italy
• Laos
• Peru
• Spain
• Switzerland
• The Czech Republic