Weed, also called marijuana, ganja, pot, or cannabis is psychoactive that you can use recreationally or medically. The way various countries see and handle the legality of this unique plant varies.
Most government leaders tend to lean on the wrong side of marijuana, making it illegal to use it in their country. For example, the plant cannot be used in countries like China, Brazil, Nigeria, Japan, just to mention a few. On the other hand, smoking and growing weed in some states are, in fact, legal.
Here is a list of some of the countries where you can get high without the fear of finding yourself behind bars.
7 Places to Live in if You Love Weed
1. Uruguay, South America
Uruguay is the first nation to make weed purchase and consumption legal for over 18 years of age. And it was legalized in the year 2013 for recreational purposes. The legalization of weed in this country has been a positive one. The crime rate in Uruguay was reduced after the legalization in 2013. Before engaging in any form of buying, selling, and growing of cannabis in Uruguay, the people must register with the Institute of Regulation and Control of Cannabis by bringing two documents to your local post office. The two documents are an Uruguayan identity card and proof of residence.
People who grow medical cannabis for personal reasons can only produce up to 480g. Uruguay’s marijuana law disallows marijuana use in enclosed public places where the use of tobacco is forbidden. There is only one place marijuana can be sold in Uruguay, and that is a pharmacy store. And only four strains are available to buy.
2. Amsterdam, Netherland
Growing weed in the Netherlands is illegal, but smoking it in coffee shops is legal. Some of the rules coffee shop owners must adhere to include:
• Cannabis must not be sold to people below the age of 18.
• They must not sell more than 5g of weed per day
• Selling of alcohol is not allowed.
• People under the age of 18 are not allowed inside the shop.
Coffee shop owners who adhere to these rules will be allowed to sell marijuana by the government.
3. The United States
Ten states in the US are legal for recreational weed. These states include Alaska, Washington, Maine, Illinois, Colorado, California, Nevada, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Vermont. On the other hand, 33 states are legal for medicinal cannabis.
California is the state that has legalized weed both for recreational and medicinal purposes. The most popular weed grown in California is the blue dream strain. Sometimes used to relieve chronic pains, the blue dream is known for its distinct smell and taste. The award winning blue dream feminized seeds in 2020 are the Golden Nugget, Green Crack, Bubba Kush, Sour Diesel, and Chemdog.
4. Canada, North America
Weed was legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018, for recreational use. That’s where the Cannabis Act came into effect. The Cannabis Act aims to curb the access of cannabis from youths. Medical weed in Canada has been legalized since 2001. Canada became the second country to legalize marijuana in the world after Uruguay. The legal age to consume cannabis in most regions across Canada is 19.
But in Alberta, the legal age is 18. You can legally carry 30g of weed in this country. Adults are allowed to plant up to four cannabis plants per household. In Canada, weed can be sold in a privately run dispensary or a government-run retail shop. Weed can also be ordered online only through the government site. Marijuana can be smoked in the same places where people can smoke tobacco legally. Smoking of weed in schools, parks, playgrounds is prohibited. It is illegal to take weed across the Canadian border, whether for medical purposes or not.
5. Portugal
Cannabis and other drugs were decriminalized in Portugal in 2001. Instead of punishing or arresting drug users, they treat them as addicts and render help to them. Carrying or consuming less than 25g of weed won’t attract any punishment. Medical weed was legalized in the country in 2018, but the law took effect after six months. According to Portugal’s new law, an official authority known as Infarmed is in charge of authorizing, supervising, and evaluating all that concerns the weed medical aspect.
6. Spain
It is legal to use weed in private places in Spain. Still, it must be for personal use like medicinal or recreational uses. However, it is illegal to use it in public places. It is a severe offense to smoke cannabis in public, and offenders get charged with fines between €601 and €30,000. Offenders below 18 might not get punished if they volunteer to enter rehabilitation. You should note that privately selling weed in Spain is highly unacceptable. Anybody caught selling weed illegally will end up in jail. Spain organizes a few cannabis events over the year. These include:
• International Cannabis Business Conference
• Medical Cannabis
• Spannabis
• ExpoGrow
7. Jamaica
Recreational weed is not legal in Jamaica, but medicinal weed is legal. Cannabis is referred to as “Ganja” by the Jamaicans. Weed was illegal in Jamaica until 2015 when the Jamaican government decriminalized weed. Here are some essential takeouts from the Dangerous Drugs Act amendment, also known as the Ganja Law:
• Owning up to 56.6g of weed is not seen as a severe offense.
• Possession of fewer than 2 ounces of weed attracts a fine of $5.
• Weed users must not be minors.
• Smoking weed in a public place is not legal.
• Weed trafficking is a serious offense.
• Planting of 5 or fewer plants is allowed
Jamaica is the first country to legalize weed for religious uses.
Conclusion
Weed lovers can visit Uruguay, Amsterdam, Canada, The United States, Portugal, Spain, and Jamaica without fear of being arrested. Some other places to see if you love Cannabis are Australia, Switzerland, Belgium, Laos, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Belize, etc. If you want to get high on your favorite plant, avoid places like France and Singapore.
