As of January 2025, the global landscape of marijuana legalization has seen significant transformations, with numerous countries reevaluating their policies toward both medical and recreational use. Here’s an overview of where marijuana legalization stands worldwide:
Europe
Marijuana legalization is legal in 22 countries in Europe. 11 countries have completely decriminalized it and three countries have legalized recreational laws.
- Germany: In 2023, Germany initiated a two-phase approach to cannabis legalization. Phase I legalized cannabis cultivation clubs, home cultivation, and personal possession. Phase II, currently in the planning stages, aims to introduce regulated marijuana sales through pilot programs. This phased strategy has notably expanded access to medical marijuana across the country.
- Malta: As the first European nation to legalize recreational cannabis in 2021, Malta has continued to refine its regulatory framework, allowing regulated non-profit organizations to grow and distribute cannabis.
- Switzerland and the Netherlands: Both countries have initiated pilot programs for regulated adult-use cannabis production, signaling a shift toward broader legalization efforts.
- Czechia and Luxembourg: These nations are planning pilot programs to explore regulated adult-use cannabis production, indicating a growing acceptance within Europe.
North America
- United States: By 2025, 24 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia had legalized recreational cannabis use. The federal landscape remains complex, but recent discussions about rescheduling cannabis could ease federal restrictions and significantly benefit state-legal cannabis businesses.
- Canada: Since legalizing recreational cannabis in 2018, Canada has faced challenges such as market oversupply and competition from the illicit market. However, the industry is stabilizing, with companies exploring international opportunities, particularly in Europe. However, there are some concerns the conservative party’s proposed budget cuts due to the downsizing of the federal workforce could lead to bottlenecks and disruptions in the legal industry. Columnist Deepak Anand makes a great point about the consistent effort legalization takes: “Cannabis legalization should be viewed as an ongoing process that requires continuous improvement, not as an event having come and gone.”
Latin America
- Mexico: Following the Supreme Court’s declaration that the prohibition of recreational cannabis was unconstitutional, Mexico has been working toward establishing a regulated market, though full implementation is still underway.
- Uruguay: As the first country to fully legalize cannabis in 2013, Uruguay continues to serve as a model for regulated cannabis markets worldwide.
Asia
- Thailand: In a groundbreaking move for the region, Thailand legalized cannabis, allowing for both medical and recreational use. The country is now focusing on developing its cannabis industry, with an emphasis on medical applications and tourism.
Caribbean
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines: The government decriminalized cannabis and offered amnesty to traditional farmers in 2018, paving the way for a burgeoning medicinal marijuana sector. Rastafarian farmers, among others, are now transitioning to regulated cultivation, contributing to the local economy and aiming to position the Caribbean as a significant hub for medicinal cannabis.
Africa
As of January 2025, the African continent has witnessed significant progress in the legalization of medical cannabis and hemp cultivation. Nine African countries have enacted laws regulating the commercial cultivation, processing, storage, sale, and export of cannabis and hemp.
- South Africa: In 2024, South Africa legalized the cultivation and possession of cannabis for personal use, marking a pivotal shift in its drug policy. The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act permits adults to grow and possess cannabis privately while prohibiting public consumption and sales.
- Morocco: Traditionally one of the world’s largest cannabis producers and long known for its hash, Morocco legalized cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes in 2021. In a significant move to encourage lawful cultivation, King Mohammed VI pardoned nearly 5,000 individuals convicted or wanted for illegal cannabis farming. This initiative aims to transition farmers into the legal market, enhancing their livelihoods and integrating them into the regulated economy.
These developments reflect a broader trend across Africa, where nations are recognizing the economic potential of regulated cannabis and hemp industries. The global market for legal cannabis is projected to reach almost $43 billion by 2024, with Africa poised to play a significant role in this burgeoning sector.
Oceania
- Australia: Medicinal cannabis has been legal nationwide since 2016, with over a million prescriptions issued, reflecting growing social acceptance. In 2019, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) legalized the possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis for personal use, marking the first jurisdiction in Australia to do so. Australia has one of the highest cannabis prevalence rates in the world according to the United Nations World Drug Report that was released in 2020.
- New Zealand: As of January 2025, New Zealand maintains a cautious stance on cannabis legalization. In the 2020 referendum, 50.7 percent of voters opposed legalizing recreational cannabis, while 48.4 percent supported it. Despite this, medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2018, with patients requiring a prescription from their doctor. Public sentiment appears to be shifting, as a recent poll indicated that 93.2 of respondents favor relaxing cannabis laws in Aotearoa New Zealand, the NZ Herald reported. However, as of now, recreational cannabis remains illegal in New Zealand.
These developments indicate a shifting perspective toward cannabis in Oceania, with ongoing discussions about broader legalization and regulation.
Marijuana Legalization’s Global Outlook
As of January 2025, nearly 50 countries have fully or partially legalized cannabis for medical and/or recreational use. This trend reflects a growing recognition of the potential benefits of marijuana legalization, including medical applications, economic opportunities, and social justice considerations.
While challenges remain, such as regulatory complexities and market stabilization, the global movement toward cannabis legalization shows no signs of slowing down. As more countries observe the outcomes of early adopters, progressive reforms and the establishment of regulated markets worldwide are likely to continue.
