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Legalizing marijuana is a difficult process everywhere in the world. Although several states have legalized the use of marijuana for either recreational or medical purposes, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 substance under federal law in the United States.
While some nations have solely permitted medical use, others have legalized marijuana for recreational use. In some nations, marijuana is illegal for personal use but is not subject to severe punishments. This situation is known as decriminalization.
Find out which nations have decriminalized marijuana, which have medical usage programs, and which have legalized it for recreational use.
Medical Marijuana has been legalized in numerous countries including Albania, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Views About Marijuana Around the World
Asia and Africa are often less 420-friendly than Europe. There are exceptions, and not all European nations have decriminalized or legalized Marijuana for medical or recreational use.
Additionally, there are huge regional differences in the punishments for cannabis consumption and possession. For instance, bringing marijuana into Indonesia may result in a 15-year prison term. In contrast, possession of marijuana in France is typically punished with a fine rather than imprisonment.
There are always exceptions. Unauthorized marijuana usage in the UK can result in lengthy prison sentences comparable to those in Indonesia. The final word? Marijuana regulations around the world have no pattern or logic. Knowing where you can legally possess marijuana for personal use and where you cannot is the finest weapon you can equip yourself with before traveling abroad.
Countries Where Marijuana Is Completely Legal
In only a few nations around the world is recreational use completely allowed. Many people consider the Netherlands to be one such country, however as was already mentioned, marijuana there is only "tolerated" rather than being outright legal. Denmark likewise has a "tolerance" policy in effect in some areas. Marijuana use for personal purposes is no longer a crime in Spain, and private property can be used for growth. Only commercial production is still prohibited.
Technically, only Canada and Uruguay are nations where marijuana is permitted on a federal basis. Even so, it is illegal for non-citizens to purchase marijuana in Uruguay. Marijuana has been made federally legal in Canada, and now it is up to the provinces and territories to decide how to dispense it.
Marijuana is legal to own and use in Georgia, but it is not allowed to be sold there. Marijuana is legal to possess and grow in South Africa, but not to sell.
Countries with Medical Marijuana Programs
Some cannabinoid-based medicines are available on prescription in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. While some cannabinoid-based treatments are now available with a prescription in Spain, marijuana is still unlawful to use in public places. However, it is permitted to use marijuana in private spaces. Australia is the only country in the world with a medical marijuana program.
Several states in the US have medical marijuana programs. Although CBD derived from hemp is theoretically lawful in all states, cannabis and a number of cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, are outlawed at the federal level and are categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance.
marijuana is classified as a restricted substance since it is thought to have "no medical value" and cannot thus be "prescribed" in any way. Heroin, ecstasy, and LSD are other substances in this category. The remedy for American citizens? Get a medical marijuana card if you can, and keep up with changes to the legislation in your state.
Countries That Have Decriminalized Marijuana
Depending on the state, location, local norms, and amount of marijuana a person possesses, marijuana may be "tolerated" or decriminalized to some extent in several nations.
Included in this group are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia (Northern Territory, South Australia, and ACT), Austria, Barbados (if you're a registered Rastafarian), Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenad.
In other cases, the legislation may not be well-enforced or may be viewed as a legal issue rather than an administrative or health concern, but a penalty is still an option. Nobody is very familiar with North Korea's approach to marijuana use. Some claim it's unlawful, but others assert that no one in the nation even considers the plant to be a "drug."
The Marijuana Market
The majority of nations are heading toward legalization, and some are attempting to catch up.
Governments frequently want their farmers to have access to the emerging, potentially lucrative markets for medicinal marijuana, just like in many regions of Latin America.
Businesses have also shown an interest. Altria, which owns cigarette brands like Marlboro, invested $1.86 billion (£1.46 billion) in a Canadian marijuana business.
Conclusion
Around the world, efforts to decriminalize and legalize marijuana are ongoing. People who travel with marijuana or use it inside national borders face harsh punishments in several nations where it is still outlawed. Wherever you go, stay up to date on marijuana's legal status, and if you have a valid medical marijuana card, always bring it with you.
