As you might have noticed, cannabis is legal in a lot more places than it used to be. If you live somewhere that there is hope for cannabis legalization, you’re probably thinking about moving somewhere where cannabis is legal so you can enjoy marijuana use without having to worry about law enforcement. We certainly don’t blame you for thinking of taking such drastic measures, as they say, “the grass is greener on the other side”. In this article we will discuss where in the world access to legal cannabis is available and to what degree they are available. We will also discuss each places particular cannabis laws, rule for recreational use as well as medical use, and what moving will look like in the midsts of a world pandemic. We hope this guide helps you answer the big questions you might have about making such a big life decision.

What are the benefits of living somewhere cannabis is legal?

Freedom to consume & grow

First off, the biggest benefit is that you can consume and grow cannabis plants in peace without having to worry about serious jail time. Beyond that there are many benefits that you might have not realized.

Easier access to recreational and medical marijuana

In places with legal marijuana the amount of options for safe access to both medical marijuana and recreational weed are plenty. Say goodbye to the days of back alley deals, and having to put yourself into harms way just to get the THC and CBD. A lot of people around the world are left to interact with the world of violent crime just to obtain the cannabis they need to mitigate chronic pain issues, if this is you you should definitely consider a move.

Get paid for your experience

For one in these places growers and enthusiasts alike are able to use their talents to help people in need or potentially make a living using their expertise in the cannabis industry. There are many types of cannabis businesses from grow operations, dispensaries, and even lounges where adults can engage in the use recreational marijuana. A report found 428,059 full-time equivalent jobs supported by legal cannabis in the United States as of January 2022. Last year, the cannabis industry in the US created an average of 280 new jobs per day!

Change cannabis culture for good

Another benefit not frequently mentioned is that countries and US states with legal cannabis have found an increased success in their efforts to keep marijuana out of the hands of minors. A new study found that marijuana use among teens has not increased in states that have passed medical or recreational marijuana laws in the past 25 years – in fact, legalization may be making it more difficult for teens to obtain cannabis.

A new giant stream of tax revenue

Since legalization of retail marijuana in Colorado we've seen over $12 billion in sales and over $2 billion in tax revenue. Those funds go toward a variety of state programs, including public health campaigns, law enforcement and schools. In the state of Nevada after covering the enforcement and regulatory costs, additional money goes almost exclusively to education in the state. If you move to a places with legal recreational cannabis sales, you have the potentially to really see your tax dollars at work!

What Countries have legalized cannabis?

Countries that have legalized recreational use of cannabis are:

• Canada: Legal for medicinal purposes since 2001 and for recreational purposes since 17 October 2018. The age to buy or consume cannabis is 19 in most of the country, with the exceptions being Alberta (age 18) and Quebec (age 21).

• Georgia: Legal for possession and consumption but not for sale, per a July 2018 ruling by the Constitutional Court of Georgia. No system for the dispensing of cannabis currently exists.

• Malta: Legal for possession, consumption, and cultivation. Distribution is allowed through non-profit cannabis clubs.

• Mexico: Legal for possession, consumption, and cultivation with a permit, but not for sale. Medical use is legal, but no system for the dispensing of cannabis exists.

• South Africa: Legal for possession, cultivation and use in private places but not for sale. Medical use is legal, but no system for the dispensing of medicinal cannabis exists.

• Uruguay: Legal, but buying prohibited for foreigners. Cultivation allowed up to six plants. Medical use is legal

• United States (18 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia): varies by state

• Australia (Australian Capital Territory) In September 2019, the Australian Capital Territory became the first state or territory of Australia to legalize recreational use of cannabis. Residents allowed to grow two plants and possess 50 g, though sales or other transfer is prohibited, including cannabis seeds. Federal law also remains enforceable.

If you have a legitimate need for the treatment of a specific ailment or have chronic pain issues the following countries have legalized medical marijuana and have possibly decriminalized recreational use. Some countries have only legalized cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals, such as Sativex, Marinol, or Epidiolex and not the plant itself, and possession of the drug itself could leave you facing heft fines or even jail time.

• Argentina: Decriminalized for small amounts and private consumption, as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2009.[13] Medicinal cannabis legal nationally since 21 September 2017.

• Australia: Legal at federal level and in all states. Qualifying conditions and other details vary by state.

• Barbados: Medical use of cannabis was legalized in November 2019 through the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill. A second bill that was passed, the Sacramental Cannabis Bill, allows the spiritual use of cannabis by registered Rastafarians.

• Brazil: Legal for terminally ill patients or those who have exhausted other treatment options.

• Chile: Private personal use and recreational cultivation decriminalized. Medicinal cultivation legal with the authorization of The Chilean Agriculture Service and sale of medication allowed on prescription in pharmacies.

• Colombia: Decriminalized up to 22 g for personal consumption. Individuals carrying greater amounts, or cultivating up to 20 plants, cannot be prosecuted if the drug is for personal use.

• Costa Rica: Decriminalized since police officers do not detain people for personal use, yet no amount has been defined as a minimum for possession. Use of cannabis is widespread throughout the country.

• Croatia: Possession of small amounts considered a misdemeanor which leads to fine. Medicinal cannabis legal for patients with illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or HIV/AIDS.

• Cyprus: Cyprus legalized the medical use of cannabis oil in January 2017, for use by advanced state cancer patients only. In February 2019 a more expansive law was passed that increased the number of qualifying medical conditions. It is still a class B substance that can lead to a life imprisonment is possible for use and maximum 8 years for possession (at the maximum 2 years for the first offense for people under 25).

• Czech Republic: Possession of up to 10 g or cultivation of up to 5 plants is an infraction subject to a minor fine – mostly not enforced. Medicinal use legal and regulated since 2013.

• Denmark: As with all drugs, cannabis-related offenses are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years. Freetown Christiania, a self-declared autonomous community in Copenhagen, is known for its cannabis trade.

• Ecuador: Legal for personal consumption in quantities of up to 10 grams. The sale of marijuana is illegal. Cannabis for medical purposes was legalized by the National Assembly of Ecuador in September 2019 by an 83 to 23 vote.

• Estonia: Decriminalized for personal use, up to 7.5 g is considered an amount for personal use, and is punished with a fine. Large amounts and distribution are criminal offenses punishable with a custodial sentence of up to 5 years. Allowed for medical use with a special permit.

• Finland: Personal use is generally not prosecuted in court but subject to summary fine. Medicinal cannabis possible under a special license since 2006; in 2014, 223 licenses were issued.

• Germany: Illegal for personal use, but prosecution may be refrained if possession is in small quantities. Legal for seriously ill patients who have consulted with a doctor and have absolutely no therapeutic alternative.

• Greece: Illegal for recreational purposes. In 2017, the Greek government legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and a year later, they lifted the ban on growing or producing it. This enables pharmaceutical companies to grow cannabis legally, and industrial hemp suppliers too.

• Ireland: Medical Marijuana Legal as part of 5-year pilot program enacted in June 2019. The National Drugs Strategy of 2009–2016 did not favor decriminalizing cannabis. A new strategy was planned for 2017. Cannabis-derived medicines may be licensed since 2014. A review of policy on medicinal cannabis was announced in November 2016, and a private member's bill to legalize it passed second stage in the Dáil in December 2016.

• Israel: Decriminalized as of April 2019, public possession of small amounts is a non-criminal offense punished by escalating fines. A third offense can result in criminal charges, however. Possession in the privacy of one's home is not punished. Legal for medical purposes.

• Italy: Possession of small amounts for personal use is a misdemeanor subject to fines and the suspension of documents (passports or driver's licenses). Sale is punishable by imprisonment, even if in small amounts. Licensed cultivation for medicinal and industrial use strictly regulated. In January 2013, Italy legalized the medical use of cannabis with a doctor's prescription.

• Jamaica: Decriminalized since 2015, and in 2018 the first medical cannabis dispensary opened.

• Lebanon: Hashish banned in 1926 and cultivation was banned in 1992. Large amounts of cannabis are still grown within the country illicitly, however. Cultivation of cannabis for medical use was legalized in April 2020.

• Lithuania: A bill to legalize medical use of cannabis was passed by the Seimas on 11 October 2018.

• Luxembourg: Transportation and consumption are illegal. Decriminalized since 2001, with prison penalty replaced by a monetary fine ranging from €250 to €2,500. In October 2021, the government announced plans to legalize growing up to four cannabis plants per household for personal use. In June 2018, lawmakers unanimously approved a bill to legalize the medical use of cannabis.

• Malawi: Illegal for recreational use, but widely used and cultivated. In February 2020, Malawi's parliament legalized the cultivation and processing of cannabis for industrial and medicinal uses, but did not decriminalize recreational use in the country.

• Morocco: Morocco is among the world's top producers of hashish, recreational use however is still illegal. On May 26, 2021, the Moroccan parliament voted to legalize the use of cannabis for medical, as well as cosmetic and industrial purposes.

• The Netherlands: Consumption and sale are tolerated in licensed coffeeshops.Possession of up to 5 g is decriminalized. Cultivation of up to 5 plants is unenforced for non-commercial use (unless grown in a professional setup). Legalized for medical use.

• New Zealand: Medical use was legalized in 2018. In 2020, a referendum to legalize recreational use failed by a 50.7% to 48.4% margin.

• North Macedonia: If one possesses large amounts, a jail sentence of anywhere from 3 months to 5 years may be given. Medicinal cannabis legalized since 2016.

• Norway: Illegal, however the government has worked on a decriminalization bill that would end all sanctions for use of drugs as a whole and possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis. As of April 16th 2021, this bill did not pass parliament. 6 parties (43,8%) voted for, while 3 parties (56,2%) voted against. Despite this decision, most political parties in Norway are currently working for a bill that either decriminalizes drugs on a smaller scale or a bill that will legalize cannabis on its own. As of 2022, use and possession of up to 15 grams are punished with heavy fines and possible loss of driver's license. Legal for medical use.

• Panama: Medical use of cannabis was legalized in 2021, after a bill passed the national assembly by a unanimous vote and was signed into law by President Laurentino Cortizo in October.Panama became the first Central American country to legalize medical cannabis in doing so.

• Peru: Possession of up to 8 g is not punished. Cultivation, production, and sale are punished with 8–15 years in prison. In 2017, the administration of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski announced a plan to legalize medical cannabis in Peru. The announcement followed a raid in Lima, in which police shut down an operation which produced cannabis medicines for 80 members whose children suffered from epilepsy and other ailments.[8] Later that year, by a vote of 68 to 5, Peru's congress legalized cannabis oil for medical use. In June 2021, Cannabis & Co. opened the first legal dispensary in Peru for the sale of medicinal marijuana.

• The Philippines: Medical use of cannabis is possible with a special permit from the Food and Drugs Authority for use by individuals with serious or terminal illness.

• Poland: Since 2011, prosecutors can choose not to prosecute possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use if it is a first offense or if the person is drug dependent. Possession of large quantities of drugs can result in up to 10 years in prison. Poland legalized the medical use of cannabis in July 2018. The law went into effect in November 2018.

• Portugal: In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the use of all drugs. Up to 25 g of herb or 5 g of hashish has been decriminalized. In July 2018, legislation was signed into law to allow for the medical use of cannabis in Portugal and its dispensation at pharmacies. Personal cultivation for medical use remains against the law.

• Romania: Small quantities punishable by a large fine for first offenders or 6 months to 2 years in prison if the person has been convicted before. Possession of large amounts or trafficking is punishable by 2–7 years of jail time.Decriminalization proposed Limited medical use was approved in 2013.

• Rwanda: In 2010 the Minister of Health proposed a law to allow cannabis to be used for medical purposes in the country. In 2021, Rwanda passed an order making cannabis for medicinal purposes legal.

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Decriminalized up to 2 oz (57 grams), legal for medical use and religious practices. Click here to learn more about the importance of cannabis to these islands.

• San Marino: Illegal for recreational purposes, but some cannabis-based remedies are legal for medical purposes.

• Sri Lanka: Illegal for recreational purposes, however the sale of cannabis is decriminalized for traditional medicine vendors and it is commonly used in Ayurvedic traditional medicines.

• Sweden: Legal under limited circumstances for patients who obtain a license, illegal for recreational uses.

• Switzerland: Since 2012, possession of 10 g or less is decriminalized to a fine.Swiss physicians can obtain a special permit from the Federal Office of Public Health for their patients with the allowance to prescribe medical cannabis for 12 months. Only two pharmacies in the country are permitted to dispense cannabis tinctures and cannabis oil concentrates for patients with serious or terminal illnesses. Treatment options with cannabis flower or cannabis resin are not available.

• Thailand: Criminalized in 1935. Possession, cultivation, and transport (import/export) of up to 10 kg of cannabis may result in a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison or a fine but is often unenforced. Medical use was made legal in 2018.

• The United Kingdom: llegal, but a cannabis warning or an on-the-spot fine ("Penalty Notice for Disorder") may be issued for simple possession instead of prosecution. Cannabis-derived medicines are legal only when prescribed by a specialist consultant.

• Vanuatu: Cannabis in Vanuatu is illegal for recreational purposes but is legal for medical and industrial purposes. A September 2018 news report noted that Vanuatu's national health care system was considering clinical trials of a cannabis-based drug to treat diabetes. On September 20, 2018, the government's Council of Ministers issued legislation allowing for the establishment of industries for the production of medical cannabis and industrial hemp.

• Zambia: illegal for recreational use. In December 2019, by unanimous decision, it was legalized for export and medicinal purposes only.

• Zimbabwe: illegal except for licensed medical use, and possession may be punished with up to 12 years in jail.

• In the United States, 37 states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis, but at the federal level its use remains prohibited.

The following countries have not legalized either medical or recreational cannabis but have either decriminalized the possession of personal amounts, do not enforce laws, or have legalized it’s use for spiritual purposes or special cultural practices. Some countries have also legalized cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals, such as Sativex, Marinol, or Epidiolex and not the plant itself:

• Austria: Possession for personal use decriminalized as of January 2016.

• Bangladesh: Sale banned in 1989, but laws are rarely enforced and cannabis is openly sold in many parts of the country.

• Belgium: Decriminalized up to 3 g or cultivation of one plant.

• Belize: Decriminalized up to 10 g. Possession is prohibited, but use is common and largely tolerated.Laws decriminalizing possession of up to 10 g "in the works".

• Bermuda: Decriminalized up to 7 g. In November 2016, the Supreme Court of Bermuda ruled in favor of allowing the medical use of cannabis. As of July 2018, two doctors have been licensed to prescribe cannabis use to patients.

• Bolivia: Decriminalized up to 50 g.

• Cambodia: Illegal but often unenforced, but this prohibition is lax and enforced opportunistically. "Happy" restaurants in cities publicly offer food cooked with marijuana, or as a side garnish.

• Dominica: Decriminalized up to 1 oz (28 grams).

• France: Possession up to 100 g entails a 200€ fine since November 2018, although a judge is still legally able to pronounce a stricter sentence. Medical use of some cannabinoid drugs legalized in 2013. A two-year trial program for medical cannabis use involving 3,000 patients is currently underway.

• India: Albeit illegal, usage is prevalent and some government-owned shops sell cannabis in the form of bhang. States have their own laws regarding cannabis, locally known as ganja. CBD oil legal, less than 0.3% THC is legal for medical use.

• Moldova: Decriminalized in small amounts for personal use, not legal for medical use.

• Nepal: Illegal, but allowed during Hindu Maha Shivaratri Holiday.

• Pakistan: Prohibited, but the smoking of hashish in Peshawar and the northern parts of Pakistan tends to be tolerated. One may be sent to jail for up to six months if found with charas in other parts of the country. CBD legalized by cabinet announcement in September 2020.

• Saint Kitts and Nevis: Decriminalized up to 15 g, illegal for medical uses

• Saint Lucia: Decriminalized up to 30 g, illegal for medicinal uses

• Slovenia: Cannabis-based drugs are legal for medicinal use, but not cannabis itself. Possession of any drug for personal use is decriminalized.

• Spain: Decriminalized. Use and possession in private areas allowed for own consumption.Public possession or consumption can result in a fine. Cultivation for personal use allowed in private areas including Cannabis Social Clubs. Sativex is legally accessible for medical uses.

• Trinidad & Tobago: Decriminalized up to 30 g, cultivation of 4 plants per adult.

• Turkey: Medical cultivation legal in 19 provinces. With permission, this can also be conducted in other provinces as well. Consuming any drug is illegal and requires juridical process. Possessing, purchasing, or receiving any illegal drug is punishable by 1–2 years of prison, treatment, or probation. Sale and supply is punishable by a prison term of 5–10 years, and production or trafficking by a minimum term of 10 years. Sativex is legally accessible for medical uses.

• Ukraine: Possession of up to 5 g or cultivation of 10 plants is an administrative (rather than a criminal) offense, but detention of up to 15 days is still possible. In 2021, some THC- and CBD-containing drugs were approved for medical use.

Where is cannabis legal in the United States?

The following states have legalized cannabis for medical and recreational use and the possession limits:

1. Alaska: 1 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature)

2. Arizona: 1 oz usable; 6 plants

3. California: 1 oz usable; 6 plants; 8 g hash/concentrates

4. Colorado: 1 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature); 1 oz hash/concentrates

5. Connecticut: 1.5 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature beginning July 2023); up to 7.5 g concentrates (up to 750 mg of THC); up to 25 g concentrates (up to 2,500 mg of THC) in a locked container

6. District of Columbia (Washington D.C.): 2 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature)

7. Illinois: 1 oz usable; 5 g hash/concentrates

8. Maine: 2.5 oz usable; up to 15 plants (no more than 3 mature); 5 g hash/concentrates

9. Massachusetts: 1 oz usable; 6 plants; 5 g concentrates

10. Michigan: 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants; 15 g concentrates

11. Montana: 1 oz usable; 4 mature plants; 8 g hash/concentrates

12. Nevada: 1 oz usable; 6 plants; 3.5 g hash/concentrates

13. New Jersey: 1 oz usable

14. New Mexico: 2 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 12 per household); 16 g concentrated marijuana; 800 milligrams of edible cannabis

15. New York: 3 oz usable; 12 plants; 24 g concentrates

16. Oregon: 1 oz usable in public; 8 oz homegrown usable at home; 4 plants; 16 oz solid marijuana-infused, 72 oz liquid infused, and 1 oz extract at home of hash/concentrates

17. Vermont: 1 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 2 mature); 5 g hash

18. Virginia: 1 oz usable; 4 plants

19. Washington: 1 oz usable; 16 oz solid marijuana-infused, 72 oz liquid infused, and 7 g of concentrates

The following states have not legalized cannabis for recreational use but only for medical use:

1. Alabama: Up to 70 daily dosages

2. Arkansas: 2.5 oz usable per 14-day period

3. Delaware: 6 oz usable

4. Florida: 35-day supply

5. Hawaii: 4 oz usable; 10 plants

6. Louisiana: 1-month supply, amount to be determined

7. Maryland: 30-day supply, determined by physician

8. Minnesota: 30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana

9. Mississippi: Patients may purchase up to 3.5 grams of cannabis per day, up to six days a week, for a total of about 3 oz per month

10. Missouri: 4 oz dried marijuana per 30-day period; 6 plants

11. New Hampshire: 2 oz of usable cannabis during a 10-day period

12. North Dakota: 3 oz per 14-day period

13. Ohio: Maximum 90-day supply, amount to be determined

14. Pennsylvania: 30-day supply

15. Rhode Island: 2.5 oz usable; 12 plants

16. South Dakota: 3 oz usable; 3 plants

17. Utah: 113 grams of unprocessed cannabis

18. West Virginia: 30-day supply (amount TBD)

What are some of the pros and cons of moving to a place that has legalized cannabis

Pros:

• Easier access for medical patients and adult use via marijuana dispensaries and retailers

• Strict regulation means a high quality end product thats safe and can be trusted

• Legal weed can be taxed, and that revenue can be used to fund things like road construction and education

• Less social stigma around casual cannabis use

Cons:

• Places with legal cannabis have seen a dramatic influx of new residents, which means you could be paying what are historic premiums for things like housing in your destination of choice

• Smoking in a public place is still illegal and could leave you with a hefty fine.

• Moving to a legal state in the U.S. doesn’t mean you can freely cross state lines with your stash. You will be confined to your state and when you travel you will not be allowed to bring your cannabis products with you, even to some legal states and countries.

What are the benefits of legalizing cannabis?

This year in the U.S. the House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would legalize marijuana on a federal level — a sign that Congress could be starting to take comprehensive cannabis reform more seriously.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, also known as the MORE Act, would remove marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminate criminal penalties for anyone who manufactures, distributes or possesses cannabis. The proposal would also require federal courts to expunge prior marijuana-related convictions and provide funding to communities that have been most harmed by the war on drugs.

The delay continues to frustrate cannabis policy reform groups, who say stalling major legislation has real-world consequences for those being impacted by today’s marijuana laws.

In places where cannabis is illegal, you can still lose your job, you can still lose your children in a custody battle, you can still be in a situation where you can’t apply for a student loan or sign a lease due to your cannabis. There are all kinds of negative consequences for millions of people that today are still living under prohibition, and cannabis legalization could change call of that.

Closing thoughts

If you are thinking of moving to a place that has better access to cannabis than your home country, there is still a lot more to consider that may influence your decision-making.

There is still a worldwide pandemic going on

Picking up your life and moving to a new country has never been more difficult due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak the entire world has experienced. You might need to have family relations, or work waiting for you in the country of your choosing. Part of why we chose to list so many countries and their different laws is because even though you might want to move to the place with the most progressive lawmaking, you might have family or a career opportunities in a country that may have limited access and is working towards legalization.

You’ll be leaving everyone you know and love in your home country

Like the vacuum salesman who helps Jesse Pinkman get a new identity in the end of El Camino says “Not many of us get a chance to start fresh”. With that being said moving to a new country or state often involves moving hundreds if not thousands of miles to your new home. Life will be completely different and you’ll be left with the daunting task of creating a new support system of friends and hopefully some family that might live there. If you’re thinking of moving just so you can access cannabis more easily, make sure it’s worth it. If you are suffering daily from chronic pain, this might be enough to act on your idea.

Your home country could already be on the road to legalization

Take some time to read up on your home country or state’s history with cannabis and the current state of affairs regarding the plant. Who knows, you could be living in the next Colorado or Canada and not even know it!