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 Authorities tolerate small-scale possession, but they strictly prohibit producing, transporting, and possessing cannabis in bulk outside regulated retail spaces. This means that while consumers can buy cannabis in coffee shops, the suppliers growing and transporting it operate in a legal gray area.

 The Dutch government follows a harm-reduction approach, limiting the enforcement of certain cannabis-related offenses while keeping anti-drug laws in place. This policy aims to minimize social harm and regulate cannabis use while still complying with international drug control treaties.

 France: Cannabis has been illegal in France since 1953, and the country has strict laws against its sale, production, transportation, and importation. France is also a part of the 1961 international agreement that controls narcotics, which reinforces its stance on cannabis. It banned cannabis as a medical treatment in 1953 but allowed limited use of cannabis-based health products in 1999 through temporary authorizations.

 France also launched a medical cannabis pilot program in March 2021, permitting a limited number of registered patients to use cannabis under strict guidelines. Medical cannabis in France is available either as an oral cannabis oil or in dried flower form, which can only be used in a vaporizer. While France has a limited medical cannabis pilot program, the government has not yet fully legalized medical cannabis.

 Spain: In Spain, personal use of cannabis is decriminalized, meaning it’s legal to possess and consume up to 100 grams (about 3.5 oz) of cannabis in private. You can also grow up to 10 cannabis plants for personal use. Many people use cannabis through cannabis clubs, which are private groups that operate in a legally gray area. This allows members to consume cannabis in a controlled setting. However, selling or trading cannabis remains illegal.

 Spain decriminalized the cultivation of cannabis for personal use back in 2015, but commercial use is still prohibited. While the personal use laws offer some flexibility, any form of cannabis trade or sales remains outside the law.

 Denmark: In Denmark, cannabis is illegal for recreational use, but it’s allowed for medical purposes through a pilot program that started in 2018 and was extended for another four years. Despite the law, the local community in Freetown Christiania tolerates cannabis and continues to allow its trade.

 Although cannabis use is not technically illegal, the laws around it are inconsistent. Possessing or selling cannabis is illegal under the Danish Narcotic Substances Act, and using it for personal use has been technically a violation since 2016. However, possession of small amounts usually results in a warning or a minor fine. A 2021 law allows only licensed entities to cultivate and produce medical cannabis legally.

 Finland: Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in Finland but is allowed for medical purposes with a special license. The Finnish Criminal Code bans all activities related to cannabis, including production, sale, and possession. While the law is strict, recreational use is sometimes overlooked.

 Cannabis became legal for medical use in 2008 in Finland, but its use remains highly restricted. Patients must obtain a prescription from a qualified doctor, and it is usually approved only as a last resort after other treatments fail, with multiple sclerosis patients being the most common recipients. Only around 500 people in Finland can access medical cannabis, and they have limited options such as Sativex or Bedrocan.

 Medical cannabis has been legal since 2018, allowing doctors to prescribe it for specific conditions. While cannabis was classified as a narcotic in 1951, and its possession became a crime in 1997, Poland rejected proposals to legalize it for either medical or recreational use in 2016.

 Czech Republic: This country has a more progressive stance on medical marijuana use. In the Czech Republic, cannabis is legal for medical use but not recreational use. Medical cannabis has been legal since April 1, 2013, and a doctor can prescribe up to 180 grams (6 ounces) per month. While the law still prohibits recreational use, it decriminalized personal possession on January 1, 2010.

 Hungary: Hungary has a strong prohibition stance when it comes to cannabis. Hungary treats cannabis as illegal, including for medical use, and classifies it the same as heroin under the law. This means using cannabis has the same legal consequences as using heroin.

 The law prohibits both the use and distribution of cannabis, with harsher penalties for distribution than for personal use. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Single Convention treaty, meaning their government considers it highly addictive and at serious risk for abuse. While countries can allow medical use of Schedule I drugs, Hungary does not permit cannabis for any purpose.

 Italy: Medical cannabis is legal in Italy, but regulations are complex. In Italy, doctors may prescribe approved cannabis-based medicines, but the government heavily regulates medical cannabis use. While the law decriminalizes recreational use, authorities treat small personal possession as a civil infraction. If another country authorizes a cannabis-based medicine not approved in Italy, doctors must request special permission to import it.

 Although recreational cannabis isn’t available for sale, some companies sell low-THC cannabis products under industrial cannabis laws. These products are marketed with a “not for human use” warning and cannot be smoked, as they are intended for industrial purposes only.

 Portugal: In Portugal, cannabis is legal for medical use. Medical cannabis became legal in July 2018 and is available at pharmacies. Portugal decriminalized cannabis in 2001, so possessing enough for personal use isn’t considered a crime. However, exceeding that limit could lead to fines or other charges.

 Portugal’s climate and lower labor costs have made it a popular spot for cannabis cultivation, and many growers obtain licenses to take advantage of this. Despite decriminalization, cannabis use has been rising, and the country typically has more moderate to heavy cannabis users than other European nations.

 The country has implemented an electronic prescription system to make it easier for patients to access their medication, though options remain limited. Right now, most medical cannabis products are in flower form, with tinctures being harder to find.

How To Buy Cannabis

 Of course, there are different types of cannabis with various uses, and each of these different types and uses can be legally regulated in unique ways. We’ll break down everything that you need to know about cannabis in Ireland, including recreational and medicinal cannabis.

 In one sentence, recreational cannabis is not legal in Ireland. Ireland’s National Police and Security Service website explains, “It is an offense to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except [following] a Ministerial Licence.”

 The National Police and Security Service website carves out this difference: “CBD is derived from cannabis. However, since it is not psychoactive, it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs legislation, and does not require a Ministerial Licence.” This means that you may be able to access non-psychoactive CBD products recreationally in Ireland.

 As is the case in many nations, there is more flexibility with medical cannabis. However, it is still quite limited. While there has not been an all-encompassing legalization of medical cannabis, the use of medical cannabis can be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Minister of Health.

 In 2016, two-year-old toddler Tristan Forde was granted permission to be treated with cannabis oil for his epilepsy. Remarkably, his seizures “virtually stopped” since he began treatment with the cannabis oil. Tristan was also the first person in the country to receive this treatment license!

 A very recent article from February 2025 also points to more medical cannabis prescriptions. Specifically, the Irish Examiner summarizes, “Neurologists in Ireland have revealed they are prescribing cannabis-based medicines for symptoms such as pain and spasticity in their patients.”

 Sophia Gibson, a seven-year-old girl, was given a long-term license to utilize cannabis oil for her epilepsy treatment. Specifically, she was suffering from Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that led to “frequent and dangerous fits.” According to her mother, the cannabis oil dramatically reduced the number of epileptic fits that Sophia was experiencing.

 Sophia’s mother also spoke about how difficult the process was to obtain this license. Her journey included first going to the Netherlands to try and receive treatment. She said, “This decision is a life-changer and a life-saver for Sophia. But no family should have to fight this hard for this long to achieve something that obviously has a benefit. The fight has been exhausting, but the relief is immense.”

 The amount of work and time that Sophia and her family had to put in to receive this approval, as well as the severity of Sophia’s condition, both demonstrate how difficult and strict the licensing for medical cannabis is in Ireland.

 The government’s official statement is that recreational cannabis will not be legalized. The National Police and Security Service website made this clear by stating that, “The Government has no plans to legalize cannabis.” For this reason, it is reasonable to assume that there will not be many major changes soon.

 On the other hand, there are also signs pointing to an expansion of cannabis usage in Ireland. In 2023, for example, Northern Ireland’sfirst legal cannabis vaping lounge opened. However, this is entirely medical cannabis only, not recreational. As political changes take place, so too might changes in cannabis policy.

 Although recreational cannabis is not legal in Ireland, some medical cannabis is, with more cases and opportunities being approved in recent years. Ultimately, there is very little to suggest that recreational cannabis will be made legal soon, but there is a promising change for medical cannabis.

 Cannabis is an indulgence that has piqued the curiosity of millions of people worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that there are 147 million global consumers. However, Statista researchers pin the number of global weed consumers at 219 million! As legalization continues to paint the world map green, more people are introducing marijuana as a staple ingredient in their daily routines. This means that there are a lot of people out there looking high.

 A cannabis “high” is the term used to describe the mind-altering journey that people venture on after indulging in psychotropic compounds, aka “cannabinoids.” One such example is tetrahydrocannabinol THC, which can be detected as a metabolite in the system for some time after getting high (i.e. THC-COOH). While it’s not necessary to slip into a state of bliss to reap the plant’s benefits, cannabis’s psychoactive element, THC, sure does present consumers with some therapeutic enjoyment.

 Although many people seek the feeling of getting high when choosing a weed strain, looking high is not always ideal. Not to worry, because we’ve compiled a list of hacks on how to hide your high to help you maintain a fresh face ahead of a family gathering or social outing.

 Once THC enters the bloodstream, passes the blood-brain barrier, and binds to CB1 receptors, the high kicks in. Remember that the rate at which a high kicks in depends on the method of consumption. Activation can emerge seconds after dabbing concentrates, minutes after inhaling smoke from a joint, or one hour or more after indulging in a cannabis-infused edible.

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