It is so interesting to be alive today! The time that has passed since Canada broke the jinx in June 2018 and became the first G7 nation to legalize recreational marijuana for sale to all of its adult citizens or residents who wish to buy it either from online stores or any designated retail outlets is just six years. Although a lot of countries still don’t know if they should make cannabis legal, there are few ones which have taken the lead and followed Canada’s example by making a move towards legalizing cannabis products medicinally.

This post reveals the leading nations that have decriminalized pot. For those individuals who love smoking weed and trying different types available in the market and willing to travel; this article is made for you. Also included is a special guest at the end of the list – a country that may seem unlikely to legalize marijuana but it did!

Uruguay:

Uruguay takes the lead in making cannabis legal, being the first country ever to legalize the use of marijuana for fun. In the past, cannabis had been legal in terms of personal possession, and judges were left with the task of differentiating between personal and business possessions. However, in December 2013, President Jose Mujica enacted legislation to officially make cannabis legal and allow Uruguayans to embrace a great plant that they won’t have to fear the police for anymore.

This law aimed mainly at drug violence, reducing profit for mafia organizations, allowing people to grow their own marijuana but also facilitating cultivation by licensed producers. With this structure, the Uruguayan government took charge of every part of the cannabis industry, including production and distribution. The governmental agents controlled pricing, quality control, maximum production quotas and other related factors.

People can legally buy weed only if they are registered in a national database which proves they are older than 18 years. Also, there is a restriction on personal growing – it is allowed to cultivate up to six plants per household and carry not more than four hundred eighty grams of weed at home. Smoking associations have the right to grow up to ninety nine plants every year. Although it has moved forward with these progressives, it still prevents foreigners from buying marijuana.

Peru:

In order to avoid legal problems, one must be very careful and follow the rules while navigating cannabis laws in Peru. Although it is still illegal to use recreational marijuana, the law does not punish those found with it under Article 299 of the Peruvian Penal Code. This law allows for carrying amounts up through eight grams of marijuana or two grams of any cannabis-related and CBD products which are intended for personal use and consumption and/or immediate use. However, one should be very careful to state that the marijuana is meant for personal use only and is not being sold, so as to avoid any legal trouble or complications arising from this act.

Nevertheless, caution is important because there could be corruption among the police officers. Some police officers may try to get money from tourists. It is recommended that one follows this advice in order to prevent any harm: stick closely to your legal possession rights; don’t carry too many different kinds of drugs at once; say “no” to weed even when it’s legally allowed – right?

Much more serious penalties are provided for traffickers caught selling large amounts of marijuana to minors. The trafficking of 100 grams or more of cannabis leads to grave punishment, such as imprisonment for a maximum period of fifteen years. Therefore travellers have to be watchful and comply with the local legislation in order not to face any difficulties.

Colombia:

The mention of Colombia brings to memory cocaine, cartels and the famous TV show Narcos. Although, there is something about Colombia that many people miss when they think of it in connection with these issues. Specifically, a country that is portrayed as having one foot in the future and another in the past made cannabis legal years ago now and continues to astound the global community with its progressive nature.

Colombia has spent more than $150 million in fighting against cartels and drug trafficking. This investment signals a turn towards progressive policies. As of now, it is legal for an individual to consume marijuana in Colombia as long as he or she does not cross the limit of twenty grams and can also grow up twenty plants without breaking the law on this matter. The fact that cannabis is treated so mildly demonstrates that the country is moving towards easier legislation on drugs themselves.

Argentina:

An exceptional country, Argentina became the first in the world to give free medical cannabis to its citizens. The month of March in 2017 was a turning point for Argentina as it passed a law allowing for the medicinal use of marijuana (with certain conditions). It is not very difficult to get a prescription nowadays – you just have to go to the doctor. Although patients are forbidden by law to grow or produce marijuana on their own, they can get it in a cannabis legal way from special medical personnel only. However, you cannot yet pay for the services of an online pharmacy that offers cannabis legal for sale. The country’s progressiveness goes as far as giving medical marijuana at no cost to patients under the public healthcare system, thus leading the way in today’s society.

Even though recreational cannabis technically stays outlawed, its broad social acceptance means that police are not tough when it comes to this drug itself but very corrupt with any kind of low level crimes. However, people who are caught possessing cannabis in the street may face some problems and have to offer money as a bribe in order to escape punishment.

Netherlands:

Cannabis remains against the law in the Netherlands even though they decriminalized its possession for personal use. Despite this legal status, recreational cannabis is widely tolerated and easily accessible through cannabis coffee shops. However, this lenient approach wasn’t always the case.

In the past, cannabis had been made illegal in the Netherlands since 1913; however in 1972, it was categorized under three different levels of perceived danger. A misdemeanor replaced the earlier crime for possessing less than thirty grams of cannabis. Amazingly, as of 1976, cannabis coffee shops started selling marijuana openly to users of it.

Currently, weed is still available for sale in coffee shops including an option to buy it through the internet. It seems that both the government and authorities are quite relaxed about enforcing laws on cannabis since they take a very liberal stand on the issue throughout most parts of the country.

Finally, there is one more country where cannabis is legal – and it may surprise you that it is not Jamaica!

North Korea:

It is not easy to gather facts about North Korea, but the available ones seem to indicate that marijuana is legal in North Korea. In the past in Korea, hemp was seen as an important crop and cannabis was used for that. According to testimonies, marijuana is very much available and allowed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to a point where a lot of its citizens are engaged in the growth and development of cannabis herbs like marijuana. It has also been noted that there are many wild plants of marijuana available around. Therefore, it might seem unexpected that in such an autocratic regime which is normally linked with tight control there is room for cultivation and use of cannabis. This could imply an uncommonly progressive attitude on the part of North Korea, especially when compared to countries like the US.

Top 5 Countries Where Cannabis Is Legal