Travel guides

Cannabis laws around the world

Legal at home does not mean legal abroad. Pick a destination for a plain answer on what you can buy, where you can smoke, and what you should never put in a suitcase.

The rule that applies everywhere

Crossing a border with cannabis is a separate offence from possessing it. A product bought legally in one country can be a smuggling charge in the next one, and airlines, airports and customs check the border you arrive at, not the one you left.

Europe (12)

Berlin, GermanyLegal for adultsAdults may possess limited cannabis in Berlin, but short-stay tourists have no legal shop or club to buy from.
Prague, Czech RepublicLegal for adultsLimited adult possession and home growing became legal in January 2026, but Prague still has no legal recreational retail market.
Amsterdam, NetherlandsTolerated, not legalCoffeeshop sales are tolerated, not legal, and national policy limits them to residents aged 18 and over — so do not assume tourist access is guaranteed.
Barcelona, SpainTolerated, not legalThere is no legal recreational cannabis market in Barcelona, and joining a cannabis club does not make its supply lawful.
Madrid, SpainTolerated, not legalMadrid has no legal recreational cannabis shops, and private-use tolerance does not legalize club sales or public possession.
Rome, ItalyDecriminalizedYou cannot legally buy recreational cannabis in Rome — personal possession is an administrative offence, not a legal allowance.
Lisbon, PortugalDecriminalizedPortugal decriminalizes personal drug use and possession, but you cannot legally buy recreational cannabis in Lisbon.
SwitzerlandDecriminalizedTourists can buy compliant cannabis below 1% THC, but cannot use the resident-only pilot studies to buy high-THC cannabis.
London, United KingdomIllegalYou cannot legally buy recreational cannabis in London — possession is a Class B offence, with a separate exception only for prescribed medicine.
Paris, FranceIllegalYou cannot legally buy recreational cannabis in Paris, and official guidance publishes a €500 fixed fine for qualifying drug-use cases.
Brussels, BelgiumIllegalTourists cannot legally buy recreational cannabis in Brussels, and Belgium's low-priority possession policy is not legalization.
Vienna, AustriaIllegalTourists cannot legally buy recreational THC cannabis in Vienna, and Austria has no lawful personal-possession gram allowance.

Americas (2)

Middle East (2)

Asia-Pacific (6)

These guides summarize published law and were checked against official sources on the date shown on each page. They are general news information, not legal advice — penalties and local rules change, so confirm with the destination's official sources before you travel.