Legality of cannabis by country

The legality of cannabis for general or recreational use varies from country to country. Possession of cannabis is illegal in most countries as a result of the agreement about Indian hemp, also known as hashish, in the International Opium Convention (1925). However, many countries have decriminalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis; see the list below.

In the United States, medical cannabis is allowed by some state, territorial, Indian reservation, and District of Columbia law, but medical and recreation use is illegal by federal law. While federal law is controlling, the Obama administration has chosen not to prosecute users operating in compliance with local medical and recreational marijuana laws.

As of 2016, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, and some U.S. jurisdictions have the least restrictive cannabis laws while China, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam have the strictest cannabis laws.

Medical cannabis is legal in Chubut since September 23, 2016, and in Santa Fe since November 30, 2016.

On 24 February 2016, the Federal Government legalised the growing of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes at a federal level. Subsequently, the use of medicinal cannabis was legalised by the Victorian government on 12 April 2016, and in New South Wales on 1 August 2016,. The usage of medicinal cannabis became legal at the federal level on 1 November 2016, with implementation varying from state-to-state.

Selling and transportation of any illegal drugs, as well as the possession or cultivation of larger amounts is characterized as drug trafficking, a criminal act punished with 5 to 15 years in prison and a significant fine.

Cultivation of marijuana, personal or collective, is legal in Chile. The Supreme Court ruled in 2015. Sale of marijuana-derived medication is allowed on prescription in pharmacies, from December 2015.

Currently in 2016, a regulation bill which will allow Chileans to grow small amounts of marijuana for medical, recreational or spiritual use has been approved by the country's lower house of Congress.

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