The government of Zimbabwe announced in April 2018 that it would allow companies to grow medical cannabis in the future. Zimbabwe is the second country in Africa to legalize cannabis cultivation. [104] Recreational marijuana is not legal in Norway, but possession of less than 15 grams is usually punishable by a fine. In addition, in 2017, the country voted to decriminalize drug use. Doctors are legally allowed to approve medical cannabis on a case-by-case basis. Thailand was the first Asian country to legalize cannabis. But with restrictions: Although plants can now be grown and they can also be processed into food, smoking is prohibited. A bill has been announced for 2022 that makes no mention of legal sales opportunities – it only legalizes the cultivation of up to 4 cannabis plants per household and downgrades possession and acquisition of up to 3 grams of cannabis to an administrative offense. [60] In June 2022, Cabinet passed legislation to this effect. [61] In Switzerland, cannabis falls under the Narcotic Control Act and is illegal. In the late 1990s, authorities in many townships tolerated the sale of marijuana as a «perfume bag» in hemp stores. Basel was particularly known for its liberal drug policy, where at rush hour there were more hemp shops than bakeries. However, the amount of sales made has led to a rapid increase in crime among suppliers.
Cases of extortion, threats and robbery have become more frequent. This provided the police with the main reason for the extensive raids between 2002 and 2003, during which almost all hemp shops were closed. Medical Cannabis Illegal (including decriminalized) Also in Barcelona you can smoke in the legal grey area: the cafes here are called cannabis clubs. To buy and smoke, you must become a member. The clubs are private, the own cultivation of hemp plants is also allowed, but smoking weed in public is not. In addition, Barcelona hosts the largest cannabis fair every year, the «Spannabis». Recreational cannabis is illegal in Sweden and medical use is very restricted. The country approved medical marijuana in 2012, but the program is very restrictive. In 2017, the country approved two licenses allowing patients to use a low-THC cannabis strain for chronic pain. Dronabinol and Sativex are available on a case-by-case basis. In Sweden, drug use and possession are illegal.
In 2018, the country legalized cannabis-based medicines. The prescription of cannabis-based medicines, preparations and substances is a special medical prescription issued according to a special form approved by the Ministry of Health. The prescription should specify the patient, prescribing physician, drug, compound or substance, quantity, dosage and method of administration. Austria`s marijuana laws are complicated but more tolerant than those of a number of countries on the continent. Reforms came into effect in 2016 that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use. In 2008, medical cannabis by-products (MBSCs) were legalized by an amendment to the Narcotic Control Act. However, access to medical cannabis in the country is still quite limited, and although marijuana-derived drugs such as dronabinol and Sativex are legal, they are not often prescribed. In addition, the country banned the sale of CBD for cosmetics and food in 2019. In general, the legal system of the Czech Republic has a relatively tolerant attitude towards drug use.
In 2009, the country updated its penal code to decriminalize the cultivation of five plants and the possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis and 5 grams of cannabis resin, punishable by a simple fine. The country also approved a medical marijuana program in 2013. On November 6, 2012, the states of Washington (Washington Initiative 502) and Colorado (Colorado Amendment 64) legalized the private possession of up to 28 grams of cannabis by referendum. Meanwhile, recreational cannabis has also been widely legalized in Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and the Federal District of Washington, DC. [121] This increased the number of states where the drug can be legally possessed under state law to 19 plus Washington, D.C. (as of May 2022). Under federal law, however, cannabis is still illegal. [122] On August 23, 2006, Law No. 11.343 Nova Lei Antidrogas was adopted, which entered into force on October 6, 2006. This new law departs from the principle of zero tolerance. Instead of following a path based on the American system (escola americana) and criminalising illicit drug users, as has been the case up to now, we are taking a path more in line with European principles. For medical use, cannabis is already available in some countries.
In 23 of the 47 European countries, access is possible under certain conditions. Some countries, such as Estonia or Greece, have legalized medical cannabis, but have not yet launched their marijuana program. And in many countries, smoking weed is allowed for health, but approval for patients has many obstacles. Recreational marijuana is illegal in the country and possession can carry a jail sentence of up to five months, but the offence is not recorded in the offender`s record if he or she does not commit another offence within five years. Possession of small amounts of cannabis can also be punished by a simple fine or rehabilitation program. Some states have already fully legalized cannabis, but the legal situation in these countries is sometimes very different. Medical cannabis has been legal in the Netherlands since 2003 and the country is a major producer of medical marijuana. Recreational marijuana is in a legal gray area in the country. While the Netherlands is famous for its cannabis «coffee shops», marijuana is actually illegal in the country, but is widely tolerated and legal for sale in cafes. Possession of less than 5 grams is generally not prosecuted, although possession of more than that amount or growing more than five plants is illegal. The start of legal sales was originally planned for mid-2014, but was postponed to 2015 due to technical difficulties with the pharmacy purchasing regulation software system[113], which however could not yet be achieved due to further delays (from November 2016).
The start of sales took place on July 19, 2017, initially in 16 pharmacies, which so far meet the requirements of the state. [114] Consumption is prohibited in the workplace, in public places or while driving. [115] Recreational use of cannabis is illegal in Romania, but the country`s laws consider drugs that do not pose a «high risk» to be less strict. The penalty for possession can range from a fine of three months to three years, depending on the type of drug.