Last verified: March 2026
The Big Picture
Between 2024 and early 2026, global cannabis policy moved in two contradictory directions simultaneously. Historic legalizations in Europe and South America expanded access for millions — while brutal crackdowns in Southeast Asia, the Gulf, and parts of Europe demonstrated that the global landscape remains deeply dangerous.
Approximately 50 countries now have some form of legal cannabis, and the global legal cannabis market is projected to exceed $50 billion by 2028. But for travelers, the patchwork of laws has never been more complex or more hazardous to navigate.
Legalizations & Expansions
Germany: First Major EU Economy to Legalize (April 2024)
Germany’s Cannabis Act took effect on April 1, 2024, making it the first major European economy to legalize recreational cannabis. Adults can possess up to 25 grams in public and grow up to three plants at home. Cannabis social clubs of up to 500 members can collectively grow and distribute cannabis.
Impact on travelers: Limited. Germany has no retail sales and no tourist access. Cannabis clubs require six months of residency. Tourists have no legal way to obtain cannabis in Germany. See our Germany guide.
Czech Republic: Legalization & Medical Expansion (January 2026)
The Czech Republic expanded its cannabis laws in January 2026, building on its existing liberal decriminalization framework. The country had already been one of Europe’s most tolerant, and the new law moves closer to regulated access.
Impact on travelers: Evolving. Tourist access remains limited to decriminalized possession. Retail infrastructure is still developing.
Brazil: Decriminalized 40 Grams (June 2024)
Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 that possession of up to 40 grams of cannabis for personal use is no longer a criminal offense. While not full legalization, this represents a major shift for South America’s largest country.
Impact on travelers: Reduced risk for small amounts, but no legal purchase framework exists. Supply remains unregulated.
Morocco: 3,300+ Cultivation Licenses
Morocco has issued over 3,300 licenses for legal cannabis cultivation, transforming one of the world’s largest traditional cannabis-producing regions into a regulated industry. The program focuses on industrial and medical cannabis for export.
Impact on travelers: Minimal. Tourist purchase and consumption remain illegal. The licensing program is agricultural and industrial.
UN Reclassification Continues to Influence
The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ 2020 vote to reclassify cannabis — removing it from the strictest schedule of the 1961 Single Convention — continues to influence national policy. The reclassification legitimized medical cannabis research and has provided political cover for countries exploring reform.
Crackdowns & Reversals
Thailand: Re-Criminalized (June 2025)
Thailand’s cannabis experiment was one of the most dramatic policy shifts in history. After decriminalizing in June 2022, the country saw 18,000+ dispensaries open virtually overnight, cannabis cafes flourished, and tourists flocked to what seemed like a new Amsterdam of Southeast Asia.
Then it ended. Citing public health concerns and youth access, the Thai government passed the Cannabis and Hemp Act in June 2025, restricting cannabis to medical use only. Recreational use, sale, and public consumption now carry criminal penalties. Many of the 18,000 dispensaries closed or went underground.
Impact on travelers: Severe. Recreational cannabis use in Thailand is now a criminal offense. See our Thailand Warning.
Saudi Arabia: Executions Surged 6,000% (2024)
Saudi Arabia carried out 122 drug-related executions in 2024 — up from just 2 in 2023, a 6,000% increase. Approximately 46% of those executed were convicted of cannabis offenses. Foreign nationals were among those executed.
Impact on travelers: Saudi Arabia is one of the most dangerous places on Earth for anyone with any connection to cannabis. See our Saudi Arabia guide.
Georgia: Increased Penalties (July 2025)
Despite a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that decriminalized personal possession, Georgia’s parliament passed legislation in July 2025 increasing penalties for cannabis offenses, particularly for sale and distribution.
Impact on travelers: The legal landscape is now more restrictive than the 2018 ruling suggested. Exercise extreme caution.
Italy: Banned Hemp Flowers (April 2025)
Italy banned the sale of hemp flowers (cannabis light) in April 2025, closing a gray-market loophole that had allowed the sale of low-THC cannabis products since 2016. Thousands of “cannabis light” shops across Italy were forced to close or pivot.
Impact on travelers: CBD and hemp flower products are no longer available through Italian retail. Do not bring hemp flowers into Italy.
US Developments
Trump Rescheduling EO (December 2025)
President Trump signed an executive order in December 2025 directing the DEA to begin the process of rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I. However, the administrative rulemaking process is lengthy and uncertain.
Bondi DOJ Reversal
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice reversed Biden-era clemency and pardons for cannabis offenses and publicly signaled a return to “rigorous prosecution” of federal drug laws. This creates tension with the rescheduling directive and injects uncertainty into the US landscape.
Impact on travelers: The federal conflict remains unresolved. Cannabis remains Schedule I. The immigration risk for non-citizens is unchanged and possibly elevated under the current administration.
What This Means for Travelers
- Do not rely on outdated information. A country that was “safe” two years ago may now criminalize what was tolerated. Thailand is the clearest example.
- Check dates on any source. If a travel blog, forum post, or guide does not show a date after June 2025, it may be dangerously out of date.
- The trend is not uniformly positive. While more countries are legalizing, others are escalating penalties — sometimes to the death penalty.
- The universal rules still apply. Never cross borders. Stop before strict countries. Your medical card does not travel. Read the rules.