There are only 11 nations in the world where weed and hash have been decriminalized. A handful of countries impose mandatory prison sentences and other harsh punishments for the possession or sale of any form of weed and hash. Another handful look the other way when dealing with cannabis.
Here’s a quick break down:
ARGENTINA: Decriminalized for personal use in small amounts and for consumption only in private locations. Public consumption is generally accepted among the young adults and overlooked by police in the suburbs.
BOLIVIA: Possession illegal. No move to decriminalize.
BRAZIL: Possession illegal.
CHILE: Personal use of marijuana in small quantities on a private place is not against the law. More than one person using it at the same place is considered as a group and thus is considered illegal.
COLOMBIA: Possession of small quantities of all drugs legal; permitted “personal dose” for marijuana is 20 grams.
ECUADOR: Possession illegal. No move to decriminalize. PARAGUAY: Possession illegal. No move to decriminalize.
PERU: Possession of up to 8 grams (0.28 oz) of marijuana is legal as long as one isn’t in possession of another drug. However, I’ve read some firsthand accounts about the police being fairly strict. Caution is urged.
URUGUAY: Possession for personal use not penalized; law does not specify quantity for “personal” amount.
VENEZUELA: Possession of up to 20 grams not punished.
BELIZE: Illegal, but use by locals is slightly tolerated.
GUATEMALA: Highly illegal. Possession by Guatemalans in not normally prosecuted for personal use, but tourists are commonly arrested and jailed for several days before being released.
HONDURAS: Illegal, but use by locals is slightly tolerated.
PANAMA: Illegal
COSTA RICA: Illegal, but tolerated. Watch out for being set up.
GERMANY and BELGIUM: decriminalized. This means that possessing a small amount is ok, but puffing in public and selling weed is not.
SPAIN and FRANCE: smoking at home and the possession of a few grams will get you searched and checked out at worst.
ITALY: possession of more than a gram could result in a search and seizure.
GREECE: illegal. Really tough on weed.
DENMARK: illegal. Very uncool towards cannabis ever since authorities bulldozed the Christiana district in Copenhagen.
MACEDONIA: decriminalized.
SERBIA: looks away if it looks at all.
SLOVENIA: has no police (just kidding, but it is a relaxed place).
BOSNIA: illegal but tolerated.
CROATIA: illegal and not tolerated.
SCANDINVIAN COUNTRIES: laws are quite strict concerning weed and it is not advisable to get caught smoking
EGYPT: Illegal, but not strictly enforced, just don’t smoke in public. Also, don’t carry large quantities unless you’d like to see the inside of an Egyptian jail.
MOROCCO: Illegal. Not recommended to smoke in public or to carry more than a few grams at a time–whatever you can quickly swallow or throw away. Tourists are usually let off with fines, but technically can be jailed for 4-10 years. Even more if you’re suspected of smuggling.
Having said all that, these are the nations in which cannabis is legal for consumption and where you should be able to smoke in peace:
BELGIUM: Up to 5 grams.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Personal use.
GERMANY: Up to 5 grams.
INDIA: All good.
MACEDONIA: Up to 5 grams.
NETHERLANDS: Coffee shops and parks, personal use.
PAKISTAN: Ummm… All good, but as a tourist I would watch my back and smoke with Pakistani friends in their homes.
PERU: Personal use, up to 5 grams.
RUSSIA: Personal use, up to 5 grams If you are caught, you will have to pay low fines as possession of small amounts is still illegal
VENEZUELA: Personal use, up to 5 grams.
AUSTRALIA: Up to 50grams! (Certain states of Australia have decriminalized marijuana possession. In Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland one can be simply ticketed for up to 50 grams. If found in possession with intent to supply, convictions apply)
Here’s a quick break down:
ARGENTINA: Decriminalized for personal use in small amounts and for consumption only in private locations. Public consumption is generally accepted among the young adults and overlooked by police in the suburbs.
BOLIVIA: Possession illegal. No move to decriminalize.
BRAZIL: Possession illegal.
CHILE: Personal use of marijuana in small quantities on a private place is not against the law. More than one person using it at the same place is considered as a group and thus is considered illegal.
COLOMBIA: Possession of small quantities of all drugs legal; permitted “personal dose” for marijuana is 20 grams.
ECUADOR: Possession illegal. No move to decriminalize. PARAGUAY: Possession illegal. No move to decriminalize.
PERU: Possession of up to 8 grams (0.28 oz) of marijuana is legal as long as one isn’t in possession of another drug. However, I’ve read some firsthand accounts about the police being fairly strict. Caution is urged.
URUGUAY: Possession for personal use not penalized; law does not specify quantity for “personal” amount.
VENEZUELA: Possession of up to 20 grams not punished.
BELIZE: Illegal, but use by locals is slightly tolerated.
GUATEMALA: Highly illegal. Possession by Guatemalans in not normally prosecuted for personal use, but tourists are commonly arrested and jailed for several days before being released.
HONDURAS: Illegal, but use by locals is slightly tolerated.
PANAMA: Illegal
COSTA RICA: Illegal, but tolerated. Watch out for being set up.
GERMANY and BELGIUM: decriminalized. This means that possessing a small amount is ok, but puffing in public and selling weed is not.
SPAIN and FRANCE: smoking at home and the possession of a few grams will get you searched and checked out at worst.
ITALY: possession of more than a gram could result in a search and seizure.
GREECE: illegal. Really tough on weed.
DENMARK: illegal. Very uncool towards cannabis ever since authorities bulldozed the Christiana district in Copenhagen.
MACEDONIA: decriminalized.
SERBIA: looks away if it looks at all.
SLOVENIA: has no police (just kidding, but it is a relaxed place).
BOSNIA: illegal but tolerated.
CROATIA: illegal and not tolerated.
SCANDINVIAN COUNTRIES: laws are quite strict concerning weed and it is not advisable to get caught smoking
EGYPT: Illegal, but not strictly enforced, just don’t smoke in public. Also, don’t carry large quantities unless you’d like to see the inside of an Egyptian jail.
MOROCCO: Illegal. Not recommended to smoke in public or to carry more than a few grams at a time–whatever you can quickly swallow or throw away. Tourists are usually let off with fines, but technically can be jailed for 4-10 years. Even more if you’re suspected of smuggling.
Having said all that, these are the nations in which cannabis is legal for consumption and where you should be able to smoke in peace:
BELGIUM: Up to 5 grams.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Personal use.
GERMANY: Up to 5 grams.
INDIA: All good.
MACEDONIA: Up to 5 grams.
NETHERLANDS: Coffee shops and parks, personal use.
PAKISTAN: Ummm… All good, but as a tourist I would watch my back and smoke with Pakistani friends in their homes.
PERU: Personal use, up to 5 grams.
RUSSIA: Personal use, up to 5 grams If you are caught, you will have to pay low fines as possession of small amounts is still illegal
VENEZUELA: Personal use, up to 5 grams.
AUSTRALIA: Up to 50grams! (Certain states of Australia have decriminalized marijuana possession. In Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland one can be simply ticketed for up to 50 grams. If found in possession with intent to supply, convictions apply)
