[ { "id": "thailand-cabinet-bill-2026", "date": "2026-09-22", "country": "TH", "place": "Thailand", "category": "tightening", "title": "Thailand's cabinet approves a medical-only cannabis bill", "description": "The draft Cannabis and Hemp Act would write the 2025 prescription rule into law, make growers register their plantations and raise penalties. It still has to pass parliament.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Edge Malaysia (Bloomberg) — Thai Cabinet approves bill to tighten cannabis controls (September 2026)", "source_urls": "https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/818915" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-marijuana-sentence-2026", "date": "2026-08-10", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "tightening", "title": "A court sets a K30,000 fine or 20 years for marijuana", "description": "The Tari District Court convicted a man after police and soldiers found about 4.7 kg in 60 rolls. It ordered him to pay K30,000 or serve 20 years, illustrating the severe sentences courts continued to impose under the 2021 regime.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary — man fined K30,000 or 20 years over marijuana", "source_urls": "https://rpngc.gov.pg/man-fined-k30000-or-20-years-jail-over-marijuana/" }, { "id": "brazil-cultivation-rules-2026", "date": "2026-08-04", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "medical", "title": "Brazil's first legal cannabis cultivation rules take effect", "description": "Companies may grow low-THC cannabis for medicines and research under special authorisation, and patient associations may grow for their members in a supervised trial scheme.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "GrowerIQ — Anvisa publishes five new cannabis resolutions (RDC 1.011 to 1.015)", "source_urls": "https://groweriq.ca/2026/03/20/anvisa-cannabis-resolutions-2026/" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-ethiopian-hashish-executions-2026", "date": "2026-07-27", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "death", "title": "Saudi Arabia executes ten Ethiopians in hashish cases", "description": "Five Ethiopian migrants were executed for allegedly smuggling hashish, after five others on 23 June. Human Rights Watch reported that the latest group had no lawyers and only limited interpretation during extremely short court hearings.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Human Rights Watch — Saudi Arabia, new executions of Ethiopian migrants", "source_urls": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/07/28/saudi-arabia-new-executions-of-ethiopian-migrants" }, { "id": "singapore-cannabis-execution-2026", "date": "2026-04-16", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "death", "title": "Singapore carries out another cannabis execution", "description": "Omar bin Yacob Bamadhaj was executed for importing 1,009.1 g of cannabis, about twice the 500 g capital threshold. His conviction dated from 2021 and had been upheld on appeal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "CNB — Execution of a convicted drug importer, 16 April 2026", "source_urls": "https://www.cnb.gov.sg/mediaroom/news/execution-of-a-convicted-drug-importer---16-april-2026/" }, { "id": "philippines-medical-cannabis-panel-2026", "date": "2026-02-24", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "medical", "title": "Philippine House panels revive medical-cannabis legislation", "description": "The House committees on dangerous drugs and health approved a consolidated bill, subject to style and amendments, that would allow regulated access to cannabis in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The proposal had not become law by October.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "House of Representatives — panel approves bill on medical cannabis", "source_urls": "https://www.congress.gov.ph/media/press-releases/9639" }, { "id": "grenada-decriminalisation-2026", "date": "2026-02", "country": "GD", "place": "Grenada", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Grenada decriminalises cannabis", "description": "The Drug Abuse (Prevention and Control) (Amendment) Act passed with support from both sides of parliament and received assent in February. Adults 21 and over may possess 56 g and grow four plants per household, and records for minor offences are expunged. There is no legal market yet.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 37, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Virgin Islands News Online — Grenadian parliament approves amendment to marijuana legislation", "source_urls": "https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/grenadian-parliament-approves-amendment-to-marijuana-legislation" }, { "id": "czechia-home-grow-2026", "date": "2026-01-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Czechia legalises possession and home growing", "description": "A criminal-code reform took effect on 1 January. Adults 21 and over may grow three plants and keep 100 g at home or 25 g in public; before, small amounts were only an administrative offence. Shops and clubs are still not allowed.", "score_before": 29, "score_after": 44, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Expats.cz — Inside Czechia's 2026 cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/inside-czechia-s-2026-cannabis-laws-how-much-can-you-legally-grow-and-possess | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "philippines-compassionate-permit-rules-2025", "date": "2025-12-10", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "medical", "title": "The Philippines updates its compassionate-permit rules", "description": "New health-department guidelines took effect for access to unregistered medicines through a compassionate special permit. The case-specific route can cover an imported cannabis-based medicine, but it did not create a medical-cannabis programme or legalise the plant.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Philippine FDA — Administrative Order No. 2025-0024", "source_urls": "https://www.fda.gov.ph/administrative-order-no-2025-0024-guidelines-in-availing-compassionate-special-permit-for-the-restricted-use-of-covered-pharmaceutical-products-and-medical-devices-for-human-use/" }, { "id": "slovenia-medical-law-2025", "date": "2025-08-20", "country": "SI", "place": "Slovenia", "category": "medical", "title": "Slovenia's medical cannabis law takes effect", "description": "The law allows cannabis to be grown, produced and prescribed for medical use under licence, replacing a system that had relied on imported products.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "sibiz — Slovenia legalizes medical cannabis, new law effective from August 20, 2025 | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovenia", "source_urls": "https://sibiz.eu/slovenia-legalizes-medical-cannabis-marijuana-new-law-effective-from-august-20-2025 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Slovenia" }, { "id": "turkey-medical-products-2025", "date": "2025", "country": "TR", "place": "Türkiye", "category": "medical", "title": "Turkey allows low-THC cannabis products in pharmacies", "description": "A new law permits pharmacies to sell products derived from cannabis with less than 0.3% THC.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Turkey", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Turkey" }, { "id": "spain-medical-decree-2025", "date": "2025", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "medical", "title": "Spain regulates medical cannabis", "description": "Royal Decree 903/2025 set up a framework for cannabis preparations made up by pharmacies on prescription.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "czechia-law-passed-2025", "date": "2025", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Czechia passes its cannabis reform", "description": "Parliament approved a reform of the criminal code that legalises growing three plants and keeping 100 g at home, and the president signed it. A proposal for licensed shops had been dropped along the way. The changes were set to start on 1 January 2026.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Business of Cannabis — Czech Republic to decriminalise cannabis from 2026", "source_urls": "https://businessofcannabis.com/czech-republic-to-decriminalise-cannabis-from-2026-but-medical-exports-already-booming/" }, { "id": "botswana-cannabis-act-2025", "date": "2025", "country": "BW", "place": "Botswana", "category": "medical", "title": "Botswana legalises cannabis under licence", "description": "The Cannabis Act allows cannabis for medical, scientific, research and industrial purposes within a licensing system. Regulations followed in 2026. Recreational use stayed illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Botswana", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Botswana" }, { "id": "thailand-prescription-only-2025", "date": "2025-06-25", "country": "TH", "place": "Thailand", "category": "tightening", "title": "Thailand goes prescription-only", "description": "Three years after removing cannabis from its narcotics list, Thailand reclassified the flower as a controlled herb. Buying or possessing it now requires a prescription, and thousands of dispensaries have closed rather than convert to medical premises.", "score_before": 64, "score_after": 27, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Thaiger — Cannabis in Thailand 2026, the new medical-only rules | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand", "source_urls": "https://thethaiger.com/guides/cannabis/cannabis-thailand-2026-medical-rules | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Thailand" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-long-sentences-2025", "date": "2025-05-17", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "tightening", "title": "Madang court gives two men 25 years for marijuana", "description": "Six people were convicted under the Controlled Substance Act. Four received five years and two received 25 years each for possessing 14–20 kg, with the court relying on the quantity and the need for deterrence.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "NBC PNG — duo jailed for 25 years for drug offences", "source_urls": "https://www.nbc.com.pg/post/20878/duo-jailed-for-25-years-for-drug-offences" }, { "id": "croatia-medical-production-2025", "date": "2025-04", "country": "HR", "place": "Croatia", "category": "medical", "title": "Croatia allows domestic production of medical cannabis", "description": "Ten years after legalising cannabis medicines, Croatia permitted growing and producing them at home, to cut prices that had kept most patients on the black market.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Croatia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Croatia" }, { "id": "hungary-constitutional-amendment-2025", "date": "2025-04-14", "country": "HU", "place": "Hungary", "category": "tightening", "title": "Hungary writes a drug ban into its constitution", "description": "The fifteenth amendment to the constitution prohibits producing, using, distributing and promoting drugs. It came with a wider government crackdown and ended the legal basis for pro-cannabis demonstrations.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Hungary", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Hungary" }, { "id": "italy-hemp-flower-ban-2025", "date": "2025-04-12", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "other", "title": "Italy bans the hemp flower trade", "description": "A security decree prohibited selling hemp flowers whatever their THC content, closing the \"cannabis light\" shops that had spread since 2017.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Sechat — Hemp industry in Italy challenges decree criminalizing low-THC flowers | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Italy", "source_urls": "https://sechat.com.br/en/noticia/hemp-industry-in-italy-challenges-decree-criminalizing-low-thc-flowers | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Italy" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-iranian-hashish-executions-2025", "date": "2025-01-01", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "death", "title": "Saudi Arabia announces six executions for hashish smuggling", "description": "The Interior Ministry announced that six Iranian men had been executed after convictions for smuggling hashish and the rejection of their appeals. It did not disclose when the executions had taken place.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Associated Press — Saudi Arabia says it executes six Iranians for drug smuggling", "source_urls": "https://apnews.com/article/efd48a3efcdbf2664e14c8ccf879f323" }, { "id": "japan-use-criminalised-2024", "date": "2024-12-12", "country": "JP", "place": "Japan", "category": "tightening", "title": "Japan makes cannabis use a crime", "description": "Japan used to punish possession but not use. Amendments in force from 12 December moved cannabis under the narcotics law, made use itself an offence and raised the maximum for possession from five to seven years in prison. The same reform allowed cannabis-derived medicines.", "score_before": 3, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "GrowerIQ — Japan's cannabis law reform, criminalizing use while opening the door to medicine", "source_urls": "https://groweriq.ca/2026/04/09/japan-cannabis-law-reform-2024/" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-hemp-study-2024", "date": "2024-09-18", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "other", "title": "National study says Papua New Guinea is not ready for hemp", "description": "The National Research Institute reported demand for industrial-hemp products but little public support for legal production and insufficient regulatory capacity. The government's development plan still calls for a future hemp-policy framework; neither document legalised the crop.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "PNG National Research Institute — Papua New Guinea's drive to legalise industrial hemp", "source_urls": "https://pngnri.org/images/Publications/Spotlight_Vol17_Iss16_PAPUA_NEW_GUINEAS_DRIVE_TO_LEGALISE_THE_PRODUCTION_OF_INDUSTRIAL_HEMP-_ARE_WE_READY.pdf" }, { "id": "ukraine-medical-2024", "date": "2024-08-16", "country": "UA", "place": "Ukraine", "category": "medical", "title": "Ukraine legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Pharmacies may dispense cannabis-based medicines on electronic prescription. Recreational law did not change: up to 5 g remains an administrative offence.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Rubryka — New law legalizing medical cannabis comes into effect (August 2024) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ukraine", "source_urls": "https://rubryka.com/en/2024/08/16/v-ukrayini-nabuv-chynnosti-zakon-pro-legalizatsiyu-medychnogo-kanabisu-shho-zminytsya-dlya-patsiyentiv-ta-likariv/amp | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ukraine" }, { "id": "slovakia-penal-reform-2024", "date": "2024-08-06", "country": "SK", "place": "Slovakia", "category": "easing", "title": "Slovakia cuts sentences for small amounts", "description": "A reform of the criminal code reduced the penalties for possessing small quantities of cannabis for personal use, in a country that had been jailing people for a few grams.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovakia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Slovakia" }, { "id": "philippines-house-medical-cannabis-2024", "date": "2024-07-30", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "medical", "title": "The Philippine House passes a medical-cannabis bill", "description": "The House approved the Access to Medical Cannabis Bill on its third and final reading by 177 votes to nine, with nine abstentions. The Senate did not complete its counterpart before the 19th Congress ended, so the proposal lapsed.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "House of Representatives — medical-cannabis bill approved on final reading", "source_urls": "https://www.congress.gov.ph/index.php/media/photojournal/5349" }, { "id": "germany-cultivation-associations-2024", "date": "2024-07-01", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "legalisation", "title": "German cultivation associations become legal", "description": "The second stage of the Cannabis Act let non-profit associations of up to 500 members grow cannabis and hand it out to them, the only legal source besides home growing and a prescription.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany" }, { "id": "bahamas-cannabis-act-2024", "date": "2024", "country": "BS", "place": "Bahamas", "category": "easing", "title": "The Bahamas passes its Cannabis Act", "description": "A package of bills tabled in May 2024 set up a framework for medical and religious use and made possession of less than 30 g a fixed-penalty offence with a $250 fine and no criminal record.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Eyewitness News — Government unveils legislation to decriminalise cannabis for medical, research and religious use", "source_urls": "https://ewnews.com/?p=128611" }, { "id": "brazil-supreme-court-2024", "date": "2024-06-26", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "easing", "title": "Brazil's Supreme Court decriminalises personal possession", "description": "After a case that ran for nine years, the court ruled that possessing cannabis for personal use is not a crime. Up to 40 g or six female plants is presumed to be personal use and is handled with a warning or an educational course. It is still prohibited, and the cannabis is seized.", "score_before": 15, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Conectas — Brazilian Supreme Court decriminalizes possession of marijuana for personal use | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil", "source_urls": "https://conectas.org/en/noticias/nine-years-into-the-case-the-brazilian-federal-supreme-court-stf-decriminalizes-possession-of-marijuana-for-personal-use/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brazil" }, { "id": "slovenia-referendum-2024", "date": "2024-06-09", "country": "SI", "place": "Slovenia", "category": "debate", "title": "Slovenians vote for legal cannabis", "description": "In two advisory referendums, 66% backed growing cannabis for medical use and 51.6% backed growing and possessing it for personal use. The governing coalition later drafted a personal-use bill, which is still before parliament.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovenia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Slovenia" }, { "id": "south-africa-private-purposes-act-2024", "date": "2024-05-28", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "legalisation", "title": "South Africa signs the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act", "description": "The president signed the law Parliament wrote in response to the 2018 court ruling. It removes cannabis from the drugs act and provides for old convictions to be expunged, but it has not been brought into force: regulations setting the limits are still in draft.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "IDPC — South African president assents to the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill | Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://idpc.net/news/2024/06/south-african-president-assents-to-the-cannabis-private-purposes-bill | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "denmark-pusher-street-closed-2024", "date": "2024-04-06", "country": "DK", "place": "Denmark", "category": "tightening", "title": "Christiania closes Pusher Street", "description": "For half a century hashish had been sold openly from stalls in Copenhagen's freetown. After a series of gang shootings, residents dug up the street themselves and the stalls were removed for good.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Denmark", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Denmark" }, { "id": "germany-cannabis-act-2024", "date": "2024-04-01", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Germany legalises possession and home growing", "description": "The Cannabis Act took effect on 1 April. Adults may carry 25 g, keep 50 g at home and grow three plants, and non-profit growing associations were allowed from July. There are no shops, and passing cannabis to another person remains a crime.", "score_before": 21, "score_after": 44, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Bundesgesundheitsministerium — FAQ zum Cannabisgesetz | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany", "source_urls": "https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/themen/cannabis/faq-cannabisgesetz | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany" }, { "id": "indonesia-medical-cannabis-ruling-2024", "date": "2024-03-20", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "medical", "title": "Indonesia's Constitutional Court again rejects medical cannabis", "description": "In a second case brought by parents of a child with cerebral palsy, the court kept the ban on using Class I narcotics for therapy. It repeated its call for the government to conduct medical cannabis research, noting that no comprehensive Indonesian study had followed its 2022 ruling.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Constitutional Court of Indonesia — Petition on medical cannabis rejected", "source_urls": "https://en.mkri.id/news/details/2024-03-20/Petition_on_Medical_Cannabis_in_Narcotics_Law_Rejected" }, { "id": "germany-bundestag-vote-2024", "date": "2024-02-23", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "legalisation", "title": "The Bundestag votes to legalise cannabis", "description": "After a plan for licensed shops was abandoned as incompatible with European law, parliament passed the Cannabis Act by 407 votes to 226. It took effect five weeks later.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany" }, { "id": "malta-first-associations-2024", "date": "2024-01", "country": "MT", "place": "Malta", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Malta's first cannabis associations open", "description": "Two years after legalisation, the first licensed non-profit associations began handing out cannabis to their members, the only legal source other than growing at home.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "ARUC — Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis", "source_urls": "https://aruc.mt/" }, { "id": "ireland-citizens-assembly-2024", "date": "2024-01", "country": "IE", "place": "Ireland", "category": "debate", "title": "Ireland's Citizens' Assembly calls for a health-led approach", "description": "An assembly of 99 citizens recommended that possession of drugs for personal use be dealt with by health services, not the courts. On cannabis, it fell one vote short of recommending legalisation.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ireland" }, { "id": "netherlands-supply-experiment-2023", "date": "2023-12", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "legalisation", "title": "The Netherlands starts supplying coffeeshops legally", "description": "Coffeeshops in Breda and Tilburg began selling cannabis from licensed growers, ending for them the \"back door\" problem of having to buy from the illegal market. The experiment covered ten municipalities by 2025.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Netherlands | Wikipedia — Drug policy of the Netherlands", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands" }, { "id": "ecuador-threshold-table-repealed-2023", "date": "2023-11-24", "country": "EC", "place": "Ecuador", "category": "tightening", "title": "Ecuador repeals its personal-use thresholds", "description": "President Noboa scrapped the table that had treated up to 10 g of cannabis as personal use. The constitution still says users must not be criminalised, but there is no longer a safe amount: a person has to convince police and a judge that it was for their own use.", "score_before": 23, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "El Universo — Tabla de consumo de drogas, parámetros y debate en la Asamblea | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ecuador", "source_urls": "https://eluniverso.com/noticias/ecuador/tabla-droga-consumo-ley-de-solidaridad-parametros-asamblea-nacional-nota/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ecuador" }, { "id": "luxembourg-home-grow-2023", "date": "2023-07-21", "country": "LU", "place": "Luxembourg", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Luxembourg legalises home growing", "description": "Adults may grow up to four plants per household and consume at home. Cannabis stays prohibited in public, but carrying up to 3 g became a €145 fine instead of a criminal matter. There is no legal place to buy it.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 37, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "IDPC — Growing and smoking weed at home now legal in Luxembourg | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Luxembourg", "source_urls": "https://idpc.net/news/2023/07/growing-and-smoking-weed-at-home-now-legal-in-luxembourg | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Luxembourg" }, { "id": "switzerland-possession-legal-2023", "date": "2023-07", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "easing", "title": "Swiss Federal Court: up to 10 g may not be confiscated", "description": "The court went a step beyond its 2017 ruling and held that police have no basis to seize up to 10 g that an adult holds for their own use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "ghana-licences-reinstated-2023", "date": "2023-07", "country": "GH", "place": "Ghana", "category": "medical", "title": "Ghana restores licences for industrial and medical cannabis", "description": "Parliament passed again the provision, struck down by the Supreme Court the year before, that allows low-THC cannabis to be grown under licence.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ghana", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ghana" }, { "id": "albania-medical-2023", "date": "2023-07", "country": "AL", "place": "Albania", "category": "medical", "title": "Albania legalises medical cannabis cultivation", "description": "Parliament allowed cannabis to be grown under licence for medical and industrial purposes, in a country long known for illegal production.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Albania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Albania" }, { "id": "malaysia-mandatory-death-abolished-2023", "date": "2023-07-04", "country": "MY", "place": "Malaysia", "category": "death", "title": "Malaysia ends the mandatory death penalty", "description": "Judges gained discretion to impose 30 to 40 years in prison instead of death for drug trafficking. The presumption that 200 g of cannabis means trafficking was kept.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malaysia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malaysia" }, { "id": "romania-3-grams-rejected-2023", "date": "2023", "country": "RO", "place": "Romania", "category": "debate", "title": "Romania's parliament rejects decriminalising 3 g", "description": "A bill to stop prosecuting possession of up to 3 g was turned down by every committee that examined it.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Romania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Romania" }, { "id": "colombia-senate-vote-2023", "date": "2023-06-20", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "debate", "title": "Colombia's Senate narrowly rejects a legal market", "description": "A constitutional amendment to allow regulated sales to adults had passed seven of its eight debates. It fell a few votes short in the last one. New versions have been introduced since and have also failed.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "singapore-possession-penalties-2023", "date": "2023-06-01", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "tightening", "title": "Singapore raises penalties for possessing large amounts", "description": "A Misuse of Drugs Act amendment introduced weight-based prison terms and caning for possession of cannabis and seven other drugs. The maximum for possession rose from ten years to 30 years and 15 strokes of the cane.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "MHA — Commencement of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2023", "source_urls": "https://www.mha.gov.sg/media-room/newsroom/commencement-of-the-misuse-of-drugs-act-2023/" }, { "id": "uganda-court-nullifies-act-2023", "date": "2023-05-05", "country": "UG", "place": "Uganda", "category": "other", "title": "Uganda's Constitutional Court strikes down the 2015 drug law", "description": "The court annulled the Narcotic Drugs Act because parliament had passed it without a quorum. The judiciary stressed that the ruling did not legalise cannabis, and parliament passed the law again.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uganda", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uganda" }, { "id": "singapore-tangaraju-execution-2023", "date": "2023-04-26", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "death", "title": "Singapore executes a man in a cannabis trafficking case", "description": "Tangaraju Suppiah was executed after being convicted of abetting the trafficking of 1,017.9 g of cannabis, more than twice the capital threshold. The case drew international attention to Singapore's continued use of capital punishment for cannabis offences.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "TIME (AP) — Singapore executes man for cannabis trafficking", "source_urls": "https://time.com/6274565/singapore-death-penalty-drugs/" }, { "id": "germany-two-pillar-plan-2023", "date": "2023-04-12", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "debate", "title": "Germany drops its plan for licensed cannabis shops", "description": "The coalition had promised a nationwide regulated market. After talks with the European Commission, ministers announced a narrower plan: home growing and non-profit associations first, with shops only as regional trials later.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany" }, { "id": "switzerland-pilot-sales-2023", "date": "2023-01-31", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "easing", "title": "Switzerland starts regulated pilot sales", "description": "Basel opened the first city trial selling regulated cannabis to registered adult residents through pharmacies. Zurich, Bern, Lausanne and others followed. Outside the trials there is still no legal source.", "score_before": 29, "score_after": 30, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Prohibition Partners — Switzerland adult-use overview | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://insightshub.prohibitionpartners.com/switzerland-adult-use/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "france-cbd-flower-2022", "date": "2022-12-29", "country": "FR", "place": "France", "category": "other", "title": "France's top administrative court legalises CBD flower", "description": "The Council of State struck down a government ban on selling hemp flowers and leaves with less than 0.3% THC, ruling that they pose no risk that would justify it.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in France", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_France" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-drug-executions-resume-2022", "date": "2022-11-10", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "death", "title": "Saudi Arabia resumes executions for drug offences", "description": "The first drug executions in 33 months ended the informal moratorium. By 1 December the authorities had executed 20 people on drug charges, most of them foreign nationals, without making any change to the law or announcing why the pause had ended.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Amnesty International — Saudi Arabia resumes executions for drug-related offences", "source_urls": "https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/12/saudi-arabia-jordanian-man-at-imminent-risk-of-execution-amid-spike-in-beheadings-for-drug-related-offences/" }, { "id": "guyana-no-jail-2022", "date": "2022-11-07", "country": "GY", "place": "Guyana", "category": "easing", "title": "Guyana ends jail for small amounts", "description": "The National Assembly removed prison for possessing up to 30 g. Up to 15 g is simple possession, and 15 to 30 g brings community service. Before, anything over 15 g was treated as trafficking, with at least three years.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Department of Public Information, Guyana — Proposed amendment of Narcotic Act submitted to National Assembly", "source_urls": "https://dpi.gov.gy/proposed-amendment-of-narcotic-act-submitted-to-national-assembly" }, { "id": "us-biden-pardons-2022", "date": "2022-10-06", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "easing", "title": "The US president pardons federal possession convictions", "description": "President Biden pardoned everyone convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law and ordered a review of its scheduling. That review led to the partial rescheduling of 2026.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "switzerland-medical-2022", "date": "2022-08-01", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "medical", "title": "Switzerland lifts its ban on medical cannabis", "description": "Doctors may prescribe cannabis without asking the federal health office for an exceptional permit each time.", "score_before": 28, "score_after": 29, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "indonesia-medical-cannabis-ruling-2022", "date": "2022-07-20", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "medical", "title": "Indonesia's Constitutional Court rejects medical cannabis", "description": "The court dismissed a challenge brought by mothers of children with serious illnesses, leaving the absolute ban on using Class I narcotics for health care in place. It urged the government to carry out research that lawmakers could use when reconsidering the policy.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Constitutional Court of Indonesia — Summary of Decision 106/PUU-XVIII/2020", "source_urls": "https://en.mkri.id/download/summary/summary_1605_1673240000_2c8ff8bb472814681492.pdf" }, { "id": "fiji-hemp-2022", "date": "2022-07", "country": "FJ", "place": "Fiji", "category": "other", "title": "Fiji legalises industrial hemp", "description": "Cannabis with up to 1% THC was taken out of the drug law so that it can be grown as a crop.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Fiji", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Fiji" }, { "id": "thailand-decriminalisation-2022", "date": "2022-06-09", "country": "TH", "place": "Thailand", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Thailand removes cannabis from its narcotics list", "description": "Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalise. Possessing and growing the plant stopped being offences, home growers only had to register through an app, and thousands of dispensaries opened within months. No law regulating the new market followed.", "score_before": 7, "score_after": 64, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Thailand" }, { "id": "norway-supreme-court-2022", "date": "2022-04-08", "country": "NO", "place": "Norway", "category": "easing", "title": "Norway's Supreme Court ends punishment for addicts", "description": "After parliament rejected a general decriminalisation, the court ruled that people who are dependent on drugs should not be punished for holding small amounts for their own use. The Director of Public Prosecutions turned this into guidelines for police the following month.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Norway", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Norway" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-controlled-substance-act-2022", "date": "2022-03-31", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "tightening", "title": "Papua New Guinea's new controlled-substances regime takes effect", "description": "The Controlled Substance Act put cannabis, resin, oil and cannabis plants in Schedule I and introduced quantity tiers. Ten grams or less can bring two years, more than 10 g but less than 2 kg up to 15 years, and more than 2 kg from 16 years to life; cultivation is graded by plant count. A companion amendment had also raised the old Dangerous Drugs Act ceiling to 40 years.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 7, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "National Parliament — Controlled Substance Act 2021", "source_urls": "https://www.parliament.gov.pg/uploads/acts/21A_26.pdf" }, { "id": "costa-rica-medical-2022", "date": "2022-03-02", "country": "CR", "place": "Costa Rica", "category": "medical", "title": "Costa Rica legalises medical cannabis and hemp", "description": "The president signed a law allowing cannabis to be grown and processed for medical use and legalising hemp. Personal use was already not punished.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Costa Rica", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Costa_Rica" }, { "id": "italy-referendum-blocked-2022", "date": "2022-02-16", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "debate", "title": "Italy's Constitutional Court blocks a legalisation referendum", "description": "More than 600,000 people had signed for a vote on decriminalising home growing. The court ruled the question inadmissible because it would also have touched hard drugs and Italy's treaty obligations.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Italy", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Italy" }, { "id": "czechia-hemp-one-percent-2022", "date": "2022-01-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "other", "title": "Czechia raises the hemp limit to 1% THC", "description": "Cannabis with up to 1% THC, up from 0.3%, stopped counting as a controlled drug. It is the highest limit in the European Union and opened the way for low-THC flower and extracts to be sold freely.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "malta-legalisation-2021", "date": "2021-12-18", "country": "MT", "place": "Malta", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Malta becomes the first EU country to legalise", "description": "Adults may carry 7 g, keep 50 g at home and grow four plants per household. Instead of shops, the law allows licensed non-profit associations that grow for their members. Smoking in public is still prohibited.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 41, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis Act (Cap. 628) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malta", "source_urls": "https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/628/eng | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malta" }, { "id": "luxembourg-plan-scaled-back-2021", "date": "2021-10-22", "country": "LU", "place": "Luxembourg", "category": "debate", "title": "Luxembourg scales back its legalisation plan", "description": "The 2018 coalition agreement had promised a fully regulated market with shops. Citing European law, the government announced it would legalise only growing and using at home.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Luxembourg", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Luxembourg" }, { "id": "panama-medical-2021", "date": "2021-10", "country": "PA", "place": "Panama", "category": "medical", "title": "Panama legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Panama became the first country in Central America to regulate cannabis for medical use, with a national patient registry and licensed producers.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Panama", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Panama" }, { "id": "saint-lucia-decriminalisation-2021", "date": "2021-09-14", "country": "LC", "place": "Saint Lucia", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Saint Lucia decriminalises 30 g", "description": "An adult holding 30 g or less for personal, private use is no longer guilty of an offence, and a household may grow four plants. There is no legal market.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 37, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Mugglehead — St. Lucia decriminalizes up to 30 g of cannabis for adult use | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Lucia", "source_urls": "https://mugglehead.com/st-lucia-decriminalizes-up-to-30g-of-cannabis-for-adult-use/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Saint_Lucia" }, { "id": "philippines-un-rescheduling-response-2021", "date": "2021-08-10", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "debate", "title": "UN rescheduling leaves Philippine cannabis law unchanged", "description": "The Dangerous Drugs Board and PDEA said the UN's recognition of cannabis's potential medical value had no immediate domestic effect. Cannabis remained a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165, and cultivation, possession, use and supply remained punishable.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Dangerous Drugs Board and PDEA — joint statement on cannabis reclassification", "source_urls": "https://ddb.gov.ph/joint-ddb-pdea-statement-on-the-reclassification-of-cannabis/" }, { "id": "morocco-law-13-21-2021", "date": "2021-07", "country": "MA", "place": "Morocco", "category": "medical", "title": "Morocco legalises cannabis for medical and industrial use", "description": "Law 13-21 created a state agency to license growing in three Rif provinces for medicines, cosmetics and industry. Recreational kif stayed illegal.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Morocco", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Morocco" }, { "id": "norway-reform-rejected-2021", "date": "2021", "country": "NO", "place": "Norway", "category": "debate", "title": "Norway's parliament rejects decriminalisation", "description": "The government proposed replacing fines for possession with mandatory counselling, as recommended by an expert committee. The bill failed to win a majority in parliament.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Norway", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Norway" }, { "id": "mexico-supreme-court-2021", "date": "2021-06-28", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "easing", "title": "Mexico's Supreme Court strikes down the ban on personal use", "description": "The court declared the ban on adult personal use unconstitutional after Congress missed several deadlines to legislate. Adults can apply to the health regulator for a permit to grow and consume, but Congress never passed a law to regulate it and there is no legal market.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 25, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Transcend Media Service — Supreme Court in Mexico declares cannabis prohibition unconstitutional | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://www.transcend.org/tms/2021/07/supreme-court-in-mexico-declares-cannabis-prohibition-unconstitutional | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "rwanda-medical-2021", "date": "2021-06", "country": "RW", "place": "Rwanda", "category": "medical", "title": "Rwanda allows medical cannabis production", "description": "A ministerial order permitted growing and processing cannabis for medical use and export. Using it in Rwanda remains a crime.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Rwanda", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Rwanda" }, { "id": "switzerland-pilot-law-2021", "date": "2021-05-15", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Switzerland allows pilot trials of legal sales", "description": "An amendment to the Narcotics Act let cities run scientific trials selling cannabis to registered adult residents for up to ten years. The first opened in Basel in 2023.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "slovakia-cbd-delisted-2021", "date": "2021-05-01", "country": "SK", "place": "Slovakia", "category": "other", "title": "Slovakia takes CBD off its drug list", "description": "Slovakia had been the last EU country to class CBD as a psychotropic substance.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovakia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Slovakia" }, { "id": "france-medical-experiment-2021", "date": "2021-03-26", "country": "FR", "place": "France", "category": "medical", "title": "France begins a medical cannabis experiment", "description": "A trial for up to 3,000 patients with conditions such as severe epilepsy and cancer pain began, the first legal medical use in France. It has been extended several times without becoming permanent.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Service-Public.fr — Therapeutic cannabis | Wikipedia — Cannabis in France", "source_urls": "https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35817?lang=en | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_France" }, { "id": "barbados-fines-2021", "date": "2021-03", "country": "BB", "place": "Barbados", "category": "easing", "title": "Barbados decriminalises 14 g", "description": "Possession of up to 14 g became a fixed-penalty matter: a $200 fine payable within 30 days, with no arrest and no criminal record.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Barbados Today — Prescod breaks from government on drug penalty law (March 2021)", "source_urls": "https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/03/06/prescod-breaks-from-govt-on-drug-penalty-law" }, { "id": "mexico-deputies-vote-2021", "date": "2021-03-10", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "debate", "title": "Mexico's lower house votes to legalise", "description": "The Chamber of Deputies passed a bill to create a regulated market. The Senate never approved the amended text, and three months later the Supreme Court acted on its own.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "dr-congo-medical-2021", "date": "2021-02-27", "country": "CD", "place": "DR Congo", "category": "medical", "title": "The DR Congo allows cannabis for medical and industrial use", "description": "A decree set conditions for producing narcotics exclusively for medical, industrial and scientific purposes, under five-year licences from the health minister. Recreational use stayed illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-drug-execution-moratorium-2021", "date": "2021-01", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "death", "title": "Saudi Arabia announces a moratorium on drug executions", "description": "The Saudi Human Rights Commission said the country had stopped executing people for drug offences and was focusing on rehabilitation. The pause had operated since February 2020 but was never written into law.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Amnesty International — Saudi Arabia resumes executions for drug-related offences", "source_urls": "https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/12/saudi-arabia-jordanian-man-at-imminent-risk-of-execution-amid-spike-in-beheadings-for-drug-related-offences/" }, { "id": "ireland-adult-caution-2020", "date": "2020-12-14", "country": "IE", "place": "Ireland", "category": "easing", "title": "Ireland lets police caution for cannabis possession", "description": "The adult caution scheme was extended to simple possession of cannabis, so a first offence can end with a formal caution and no prosecution.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ireland" }, { "id": "un-cannabis-rescheduled-2020", "date": "2020-12-02", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The UN removes cannabis from its strictest schedule", "description": "On the advice of the World Health Organization, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted 27 to 25 to take cannabis and its resin out of Schedule IV of the Single Convention, the category for drugs with little or no medical value. They stay in Schedule I, so the duty to prohibit non-medical use did not change.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UN News — UN commission reclassifies cannabis (December 2020) | Wikipedia — Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs", "source_urls": "https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079132 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Convention_on_Narcotic_Drugs" }, { "id": "argentina-reprocann-2020", "date": "2020-11-12", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "medical", "title": "Argentina lets registered patients grow their own", "description": "A decree created the REPROCANN registry: with a doctor's indication, a registered person may grow cannabis at home or name a grower or association to do it for them.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 26, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina" }, { "id": "dominica-decriminalisation-2020", "date": "2020-10-26", "country": "DM", "place": "Dominica", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Dominica decriminalises small amounts", "description": "Parliament amended the drug law so that adults may possess up to 28 g without criminal liability, and a household may grow three plants. Larger amounts keep the old penalties, and there is no legal market.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 37, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "CARICOM Today — Dominica parliament passes legislation to decriminalise small amounts of marijuana | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Dominica", "source_urls": "https://today.caricom.org/?p=46558 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Dominica" }, { "id": "new-zealand-referendum-2020", "date": "2020-10-17", "country": "NZ", "place": "New Zealand", "category": "debate", "title": "New Zealand votes against legalisation", "description": "A referendum on a detailed bill for a regulated market was lost by 50.7% to 48.4%, the closest any country has come to legalising by popular vote.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum | Wikipedia — Cannabis in New Zealand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_New_Zealand_cannabis_referendum | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_New_Zealand" }, { "id": "pakistan-hemp-2020", "date": "2020-09-01", "country": "PK", "place": "Pakistan", "category": "other", "title": "Pakistan approves industrial hemp", "description": "The federal government approved growing hemp for industrial use and allowed cannabis extracts for industrial and medical purposes.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Pakistan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Pakistan" }, { "id": "france-fixed-fine-2020", "date": "2020-09-01", "country": "FR", "place": "France", "category": "easing", "title": "France introduces a €200 on-the-spot fine", "description": "Possession stays a crime with up to a year in prison on paper, but police can now settle cases under 50 g with a fixed fine, which has become the usual outcome.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "CIDJ — Détention de cannabis, je risque quoi ? | Wikipedia — Cannabis in France", "source_urls": "https://www.cidj.com/vie-quotidienne/justice/detention-de-cannabis-je-risque-quoi | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_France" }, { "id": "seychelles-medical-2020", "date": "2020", "country": "SC", "place": "Seychelles", "category": "medical", "title": "Seychelles allows cannabidiol medicines", "description": "After a Constitutional Court ruling the year before, regulations allowed cannabidiol-based products to be prescribed for medical purposes.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Seychelles", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Seychelles" }, { "id": "lebanon-medical-cultivation-2020", "date": "2020-04-21", "country": "LB", "place": "Lebanon", "category": "medical", "title": "Lebanon legalises growing cannabis for medicine", "description": "Parliament made Lebanon the first Arab country to permit cannabis cultivation, for medical and industrial use and for export. Recreational use stayed illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lebanon", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lebanon" }, { "id": "new-zealand-medicinal-scheme-2020", "date": "2020-04-01", "country": "NZ", "place": "New Zealand", "category": "medical", "title": "New Zealand opens its medicinal cannabis scheme", "description": "Doctors may prescribe cannabis products that meet a national quality standard, dispensed by pharmacies. A referendum on full legalisation failed narrowly later the same year.", "score_before": 18, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor — Cannabis in Aotearoa New Zealand | Wikipedia — Cannabis in New Zealand", "source_urls": "https://pmcsa.ac.nz/topics/cannabis/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_New_Zealand" }, { "id": "ghana-narcotics-commission-act-2020", "date": "2020-03-20", "country": "GH", "place": "Ghana", "category": "easing", "title": "Ghana treats drug use as a health issue", "description": "The Narcotics Control Commission Act replaced prison for possession for personal use with a fine, and described drug use as a public health matter. Before, possession carried a minimum of ten years.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 16, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ghana", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ghana" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-flogging-abolished-2020", "date": "2020-02-18", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "easing", "title": "Saudi Arabia abolishes discretionary flogging", "description": "The Supreme Court ended flogging as a ta'zir punishment, the category used for drug offences, and directed courts to use prison, fines or alternative penalties instead. Capital punishment and long prison terms under the anti-narcotics law remained available.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UN Committee against Torture — Saudi Arabia's third periodic report", "source_urls": "https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=b2dinna1Fy%2FWfjRHrzXFx7jMjz6cRdyn5q1sy3Wm%2BnpZowjbOYE6FI8pML0l8t8SxkZE2pVO30cV4nTsTBRZ9Q%3D%3D" }, { "id": "saint-kitts-56-grams-2020", "date": "2020-02", "country": "KN", "place": "Saint Kitts and Nevis", "category": "easing", "title": "Saint Kitts and Nevis raises the limit to 56 g", "description": "Parliament raised the amount treated as a ticketable infraction from 15 g to 56 g and passed a Cannabis Act for medical and religious use, which was brought fully into force in 2023.", "score_before": 29, "score_after": 33, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Kitts and Nevis", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis" }, { "id": "malawi-medical-industrial-2020", "date": "2020-02", "country": "MW", "place": "Malawi", "category": "medical", "title": "Malawi legalises cannabis for medicine and industry", "description": "Parliament allowed cannabis to be grown and processed under licence for medical and industrial use, as an alternative to tobacco. Recreational use stayed illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malawi", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malawi" }, { "id": "australia-act-legalises-2020", "date": "2020-01-31", "country": "AU", "place": "Australia", "category": "legalisation", "title": "The Australian Capital Territory legalises possession and growing", "description": "Adults in Canberra may possess 50 g and grow two plants each, four per household. Selling remains illegal, and so does buying seeds. No other state or territory has followed.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Conversation — ACT cannabis laws come into effect, but they may not be what you hoped for | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Australia", "source_urls": "https://theconversation.com/act-cannabis-laws-come-into-effect-on-friday-but-they-may-not-be-what-you-hoped-for-130050 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Australia" }, { "id": "czechia-medical-insurance-2020", "date": "2020-01-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "medical", "title": "Czech health insurers start paying for medical cannabis", "description": "Patients had been paying the full price since 2013, which kept the programme tiny. Insurers now cover 90% of the cost for up to 30 g a month, and the number of patients grew quickly.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "SAKL — State Agency for Medical Cannabis", "source_urls": "https://www.sakl.cz/" }, { "id": "trinidad-decriminalisation-2019", "date": "2019-12-23", "country": "TT", "place": "Trinidad and Tobago", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Trinidad and Tobago decriminalises cannabis", "description": "Adults may possess up to 30 g and grow four plants each with no penalty. Between 30 g and 60 g is a fixed-penalty ticket instead of a prosecution. Before, possession could mean years in prison. No legal market was created.", "score_before": 6, "score_after": 37, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "TNI — Trinidad and Tobago lawmakers approve marijuana decriminalization bill | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Trinidad and Tobago", "source_urls": "https://ungassondrugs.org/en/site_content/item/9516-trinidad-and-tobago-lawmakers-approve-marijuana-decriminalization-bill.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago" }, { "id": "italy-home-growing-2019", "date": "2019-12-19", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "easing", "title": "Italy's top court allows minimal home growing", "description": "The Court of Cassation ruled that growing a small number of plants at home with rudimentary methods, for the grower's own use, is not a crime.", "score_before": 23, "score_after": 26, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Diritto.it — Coltivazione domestica di cannabis, verso la depenalizzazione | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Italy", "source_urls": "https://www.diritto.it/cannabis-domestica-coltivazione-e-depenalizzazione/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Italy" }, { "id": "zambia-medical-export-2019", "date": "2019-12", "country": "ZM", "place": "Zambia", "category": "medical", "title": "Zambia legalises cannabis for export and medicine", "description": "The cabinet approved growing cannabis under licence for export and medical purposes only.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Zambia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Zambia" }, { "id": "brazil-pharmacy-products-2019", "date": "2019-12-03", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "medical", "title": "Brazil allows cannabis products in pharmacies", "description": "The health regulator approved rules for selling cannabis-based products in pharmacies on prescription. Growing the plant in Brazil stayed prohibited, so everything was imported.", "score_before": 14, "score_after": 15, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brazil" }, { "id": "singapore-first-cannabinoid-medicine-2019", "date": "2019-12-01", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "medical", "title": "Singapore approves its first cannabinoid medicine", "description": "Authorities allowed a girl with treatment-resistant epilepsy to receive a cannabis-derived pharmaceutical after the available registered treatments had failed. Approval was exceptional and case by case; raw cannabis and a general medical-cannabis programme remained illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Straits Times — First Singapore case of cannabis-derived medication allowed", "source_urls": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/first-spore-case-of-cannabis-derived-medication-allowed" }, { "id": "barbados-medical-2019", "date": "2019-11", "country": "BB", "place": "Barbados", "category": "medical", "title": "Barbados legalises medical and sacramental cannabis", "description": "Two laws set up a licensed medical cannabis industry and allowed Rastafari to use cannabis as a sacrament at their places of worship.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Barbados", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Barbados" }, { "id": "canada-edibles-2019", "date": "2019-10-17", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Canada legalises edibles, extracts and vapes", "description": "A year after flower and oils, the second wave of products became legal: edibles capped at 10 mg of THC per package, plus extracts, vapes and topicals.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "ecuador-medical-2019", "date": "2019-09", "country": "EC", "place": "Ecuador", "category": "medical", "title": "Ecuador legalises medical cannabis and hemp", "description": "A reform of the criminal code took cannabis with less than 1% THC out of the list of controlled substances and allowed cannabis medicines on prescription.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ecuador", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ecuador" }, { "id": "new-zealand-police-discretion-2019", "date": "2019-08-13", "country": "NZ", "place": "New Zealand", "category": "easing", "title": "New Zealand tells police to consider health first", "description": "An amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act requires police to consider whether a health-based response would do more good than prosecution. Many possession cases now end in a warning or referral.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "NZ Ministry of Health — Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2019 post-implementation review (PDF)", "source_urls": "https://health.govt.nz/system/files/2021-11/misuse_of_drugs_amendment_act_2019_post-implementation_review.pdf" }, { "id": "saint-kitts-decriminalisation-2019", "date": "2019-07-31", "country": "KN", "place": "Saint Kitts and Nevis", "category": "easing", "title": "Saint Kitts and Nevis decriminalises after a court ruling", "description": "In May the High Court ruled that adults may possess and use cannabis in private. Parliament followed in July, turning small amounts and up to five plants into a ticket with a small fixed fine instead of a crime. The possession limit was raised from 15 g to 56 g in 2020.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 29, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "SKNIS — Historic amendments to the Drugs Act passed in the National Assembly (2019) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Kitts and Nevis", "source_urls": "https://www.sknis.gov.kn/2019/07/31/historic-amendments-to-the-drugs-act-successfully-passed-in-the-national-assembly | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis" }, { "id": "liechtenstein-cannabis-medicines-2019", "date": "2019", "country": "LI", "place": "Liechtenstein", "category": "medical", "title": "Liechtenstein authorises cannabis medicines", "description": "Marketing authorisation was given to the cannabis-based medicines Epidyolex and Sativex.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Liechtenstein", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Liechtenstein" }, { "id": "kosovo-criminal-code-2019", "date": "2019", "country": "XK", "place": "Kosovo", "category": "other", "title": "Kosovo revises its criminal code", "description": "The revised Article 269 sets the penalty for a first possession offence at a fine of 250 to 300 euros or up to a year in prison.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Kosovo", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Kosovo" }, { "id": "finland-citizens-initiative-2019", "date": "2019", "country": "FI", "place": "Finland", "category": "debate", "title": "A Finnish citizens' initiative calls for decriminalisation", "description": "A petition to stop punishing cannabis use gathered more than the 50,000 signatures needed to put it before parliament, which did not act on it.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Finland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Finland" }, { "id": "ireland-medical-access-2019", "date": "2019-06", "country": "IE", "place": "Ireland", "category": "medical", "title": "Ireland starts its Medical Cannabis Access Programme", "description": "A five-year pilot allows consultants to prescribe approved cannabis products for three conditions where other treatment has failed.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ireland" }, { "id": "lithuania-medical-2019", "date": "2019-05", "country": "LT", "place": "Lithuania", "category": "medical", "title": "Lithuania allows cannabis-based medicines", "description": "A law permitted doctors to prescribe registered medicines made from cannabis. Flower and home growing stayed illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lithuania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lithuania" }, { "id": "israel-fines-2019", "date": "2019-04-01", "country": "IL", "place": "Israel", "category": "easing", "title": "Israel replaces prosecution with fines", "description": "Adults caught with a small amount in public now receive a fixed fine and no criminal record, instead of a criminal case. Possession at home in small amounts is generally not enforced. Growing even one plant is still a crime.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 25, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Al-Monitor — Israel's cannabis revolution | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Israel", "source_urls": "https://al-monitor.com/originals/2019/02/israel-cannabis-law-pharmacy-doctors-support-group-addiction.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Israel" }, { "id": "thailand-medical-2019", "date": "2019-02-19", "country": "TH", "place": "Thailand", "category": "medical", "title": "Thailand legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Thailand became the first country in South-East Asia to allow cannabis for medical use and research. Recreational possession stayed a narcotics offence for three more years.", "score_before": 6, "score_after": 7, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Thailand" }, { "id": "cyprus-medical-expanded-2019", "date": "2019-02", "country": "CY", "place": "Cyprus", "category": "medical", "title": "Cyprus widens medical cannabis", "description": "A new law extended medical cannabis beyond advanced cancer to a list of chronic conditions and provided for licensed growers.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 10, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Cyprus", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Cyprus" }, { "id": "us-farm-bill-2018", "date": "2018-12-20", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "other", "title": "The United States legalises hemp", "description": "The Farm Bill removed cannabis with up to 0.3% THC from the Controlled Substances Act. It was meant for fibre and CBD, but it also opened a national market in intoxicating hemp products that Congress later moved to close.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "antigua-cannabis-act-2018", "date": "2018-12", "country": "AG", "place": "Antigua and Barbuda", "category": "easing", "title": "Antigua and Barbuda passes its Cannabis Act", "description": "The Act allowed four plants per household, recognised Rastafari sacramental use and set up a licensing authority for medical cannabis.", "score_before": 28, "score_after": 36, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "IDPC — Antigua and Barbuda set to pass inclusive cannabis regulation law", "source_urls": "https://idpc.net/news/2018/12/antigua-and-barbuda-set-to-pass-inclusive-cannabis-regulation-law" }, { "id": "saint-vincent-medical-2018", "date": "2018-12-11", "country": "VC", "place": "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "category": "medical", "title": "Saint Vincent legalises a medical cannabis industry", "description": "Parliament passed laws licensing cultivation for medical use and export, with an amnesty meant to bring the island's traditional growers into the legal system.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 24, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines" }, { "id": "south-korea-medical-2018", "date": "2018-11-23", "country": "KR", "place": "South Korea", "category": "medical", "title": "South Korea legalises medical cannabis", "description": "The National Assembly allowed a small number of cannabis-derived medicines to be imported for patients with rare diseases, through a state agency. It was the first country in East Asia to do so.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Korea", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Korea" }, { "id": "france-fine-voted-2018", "date": "2018-11-23", "country": "FR", "place": "France", "category": "debate", "title": "French deputies vote for a fixed fine", "description": "The National Assembly approved replacing prosecution for cannabis use with an on-the-spot fine of €200. It came into use nationwide in September 2020.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in France", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_France" }, { "id": "uk-medical-cannabis-2018", "date": "2018-11-01", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "medical", "title": "The United Kingdom allows medical cannabis", "description": "Specialist doctors may prescribe cannabis-based medicines. In practice almost all prescriptions come from private clinics, as the health service funds very few. Recreational law did not change.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 15, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "BMJ — Medical cannabis, patients turn to private clinics because of NHS void (PDF) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5290.full.pdf | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom" }, { "id": "mexico-jurisprudence-2018", "date": "2018-10-31", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "easing", "title": "Mexico's Supreme Court rules a fifth time against the ban", "description": "Five rulings in the same direction make a precedent binding on every court. The court gave Congress 90 days to change the law; Congress missed that deadline and several extensions.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "canada-cannabis-act-2018", "date": "2018-10-17", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Canada legalises cannabis nationwide", "description": "The Cannabis Act made Canada the second country, and the first G7 member, to legalise. Adults may carry 30 g, grow four plants per household in most provinces, share with other adults and buy from licensed shops.", "score_before": 15, "score_after": 53, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Department of Justice Canada — Cannabis legalization and regulation | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/cannabis/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "colombia-police-code-decree-2018", "date": "2018-10-01", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Colombia tells police to confiscate the personal dose", "description": "A decree from President Duque let police seize even a personal dose found on someone in public and fine them. The Constitutional Court struck down the blanket ban on public use the following year.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "vanuatu-medical-industry-2018", "date": "2018-09-20", "country": "VU", "place": "Vanuatu", "category": "medical", "title": "Vanuatu approves a medical cannabis and hemp industry", "description": "The Council of Ministers decided to allow industries producing medical cannabis and industrial hemp. Use by the public stayed illegal.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Vanuatu", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Vanuatu" }, { "id": "south-africa-constitutional-court-2018", "date": "2018-09-18", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "legalisation", "title": "South Africa's top court protects private use and growing", "description": "The Constitutional Court ruled that adults have a right to use, possess and grow cannabis in private, with no fixed gram or plant limit. Buying and selling stayed illegal, and so did use in public.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 49, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Constitutional Court of South Africa — Minister of Justice v Prince [2018] ZACC 30 | Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZACC/2018/30.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "georgia-constitutional-court-2018", "date": "2018-07-30", "country": "GE", "place": "Georgia", "category": "easing", "title": "Georgia's Constitutional Court ends punishment for use", "description": "The court abolished the administrative fines for consuming cannabis, making private use legal. Growing and selling remain crimes, so there is no lawful way to get it.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "IDPC — Cannabis use can no longer be punished in Georgia, court rules | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Georgia (country)", "source_urls": "https://idpc.net/news/2018/08/cannabis-use-can-no-longer-be-punished-in-georgia-court-rules | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Georgia_(country)" }, { "id": "saint-vincent-decriminalisation-2018", "date": "2018-07-25", "country": "VC", "place": "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "category": "easing", "title": "Saint Vincent decriminalises two ounces", "description": "An amendment to the drugs law made possession of up to 56 g a non-criminal matter, dealt with by a fine of at most EC$500 and referral to counselling.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines" }, { "id": "portugal-medical-2018", "date": "2018-07", "country": "PT", "place": "Portugal", "category": "medical", "title": "Portugal legalises medical cannabis", "description": "A law allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines, dispensed by pharmacies, when conventional treatment has failed. Very few products have been approved, though Portugal has become a major grower for export.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Portugal", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Portugal" }, { "id": "caricom-commission-report-2018", "date": "2018-07", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "A Caribbean commission calls for an end to cannabis prohibition", "description": "After four years of consultations across the region, the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana concluded that the existing laws were ineffective and unjust and recommended that member states treat cannabis like alcohol or tobacco. Most of the Caribbean reforms of the following years cite it.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "CARICOM — Report of the Regional Commission on Marijuana 2018, Waiting to Exhale", "source_urls": "https://caricom.org/documents/report-of-the-caricom-regional-commission-on-marijuana-2018-waiting-to-exhale-safeguarding-our-future-through-responsible-socio-legal-policy-on-marijuana/" }, { "id": "luxembourg-medical-2018", "date": "2018-06", "country": "LU", "place": "Luxembourg", "category": "medical", "title": "Luxembourg legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Parliament voted unanimously to allow medical cannabis. Doctors with special training may prescribe it for chronic pain, chemotherapy nausea and multiple sclerosis, dispensed free of charge by hospital pharmacies.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Luxembourg", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Luxembourg" }, { "id": "zimbabwe-medical-2018", "date": "2018-04", "country": "ZW", "place": "Zimbabwe", "category": "medical", "title": "Zimbabwe legalises growing cannabis for medicine", "description": "Zimbabwe became the second African country to allow cannabis for medical and scientific purposes, through five-year licences to grow and sell it.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Zimbabwe", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Zimbabwe" }, { "id": "malta-medical-2018", "date": "2018-03-27", "country": "MT", "place": "Malta", "category": "medical", "title": "Malta legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Any doctor may prescribe cannabis, which pharmacies dispense. A second law the same year licensed production for export.", "score_before": 21, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malta", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malta" }, { "id": "jamaica-first-herb-house-2018", "date": "2018-03", "country": "JM", "place": "Jamaica", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Jamaica's first licensed herb house opens", "description": "Three years after the reform, the first dispensary licensed by the Cannabis Licensing Authority opened. Patients, and visitors who sign a declaration, can buy and use cannabis there.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Cannabis Licensing Authority | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jamaica", "source_urls": "https://www.cla.org.jm/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jamaica" }, { "id": "greece-medical-2018", "date": "2018-03", "country": "GR", "place": "Greece", "category": "medical", "title": "Greece legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Parliament allowed the cultivation, production and prescription of medical cannabis. Licences for producers came quickly; finished products reached patients only years later.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Mondaq — The new legislative regime on pharmaceutical cannabis (Greece) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Greece", "source_urls": "https://www.mondaq.com/life-sciences-biotechnology-nanotechnology/1097712/the-new-legislative-regime-on-pharmaceutical-cannabis | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Greece" }, { "id": "antigua-decriminalisation-2018", "date": "2018-03", "country": "AG", "place": "Antigua and Barbuda", "category": "easing", "title": "Antigua and Barbuda decriminalises 15 g", "description": "An amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act means a person holding up to 15 g is no longer guilty of an offence. Households were later allowed four plants, and Rastafari sacramental use was recognised.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 28, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "IDPC — Antigua and Barbuda set to decriminalise cannabis | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Antigua and Barbuda", "source_urls": "https://idpc.net/news/2018/02/antigua-and-barbuda-set-to-decriminalise-cannabis-as-pm-says-it-is-part-of-the-culture-of-the-country | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Antigua_and_Barbuda" }, { "id": "denmark-medical-pilot-2018", "date": "2018-01-01", "country": "DK", "place": "Denmark", "category": "medical", "title": "Denmark starts a medical cannabis pilot", "description": "A four-year trial let any doctor prescribe cannabis products that were not approved as medicines. It was later extended and then made permanent.", "score_before": 18, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Denmark", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Denmark" }, { "id": "paraguay-medical-2017", "date": "2017-12", "country": "PY", "place": "Paraguay", "category": "medical", "title": "Paraguay legalises medical cannabis", "description": "A law set up a state programme for medical cannabis, with free access for registered patients. Home growing for patients was added later.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "International Bar Association — Medical cannabis in Paraguay, regulatory framework", "source_urls": "https://prod-bo.ibanet.org/medical-cannabis-paraguay" }, { "id": "georgia-consumption-2017", "date": "2017-11-30", "country": "GE", "place": "Georgia", "category": "easing", "title": "Georgia's Constitutional Court ends criminal penalties for use", "description": "The court ruled that criminal punishment for consuming cannabis is unconstitutional, leaving only an administrative fine. Eight months later it struck down the fine as well.", "score_before": 14, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "JAMnews — Marijuana use in Georgia, what does the law say?", "source_urls": "https://jam-news.net/marijuana-use-in-georgia-what-does-the-new-law-say/" }, { "id": "peru-medical-2017", "date": "2017-11", "country": "PE", "place": "Peru", "category": "medical", "title": "Peru legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Law 30681 allowed the import, production and sale of cannabis for medical use. Cultivation by patient associations was added in 2021.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Peru", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Peru" }, { "id": "belize-decriminalisation-2017", "date": "2017-11", "country": "BZ", "place": "Belize", "category": "easing", "title": "Belize decriminalises 10 g", "description": "Adults may possess up to 10 g and use it on private premises without committing an offence. Growing any amount remains a crime, and a later law to create a regulated market was shelved.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 25, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2017, No. 47 of 2017 (PDF, via OAS) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belize", "source_urls": "https://oas.org/ext/Portals/33/adam/Content/1LAvBxqRKUevbza4NS5FZw/Text/Act-No.-47-of-2017-Misuse-of-Drugs-Amendment-Act-2017.pdf | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belize" }, { "id": "poland-medical-2017", "date": "2017-11-01", "country": "PL", "place": "Poland", "category": "medical", "title": "Poland allows medical cannabis in pharmacies", "description": "Any doctor may prescribe cannabis flower, which pharmacies prepare and dispense. The programme has grown into one of the largest in Europe.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Chambers Practice Guides — Medical cannabis and cannabinoid regulation 2024, Poland | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Poland", "source_urls": "https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/medical-cannabis-cannabinoid-regulation-2024/poland | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Poland" }, { "id": "switzerland-ten-grams-2017", "date": "2017-09-06", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "easing", "title": "Swiss Federal Court: possessing up to 10 g is not punishable", "description": "The court held that simply having up to 10 g for one's own use carries no penalty at all, not even the CHF 100 fine, which applies only to someone caught using it.", "score_before": 23, "score_after": 28, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "ch.ch (Swiss authorities) — Cannabis | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://www.ch.ch/en/safety-and-justice/police/cannabis | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "philippines-plea-bargaining-ruling-2017", "date": "2017-08-15", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "easing", "title": "The Supreme Court invalidates the drug-law plea-bargaining ban", "description": "In Estipona v Lobrigo, the Court held that Republic Act 9165's absolute ban on plea bargaining intruded on its constitutional rule-making power. A 2018 court framework then specified which lesser pleas judges may approve in drug cases.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Supreme Court — Estipona v Lobrigo, G.R. No. 226679", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2017/aug2017/gr_226679_2017.html" }, { "id": "indonesia-fidelis-case-2017", "date": "2017-08-02", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "tightening", "title": "A man is jailed for growing cannabis to treat his wife", "description": "A court sentenced Fidelis Arie Sudewarto to eight months in prison and a Rp 1 billion fine for growing and giving cannabis to his wife, who had syringomyelia and died while he was detained. The case brought national attention to Indonesia's ban on medical use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Jakarta Post — Man jailed for cannabis for dying wife", "source_urls": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/03/man-jailed-cannabis-dying-wife" }, { "id": "uruguay-pharmacy-sales-2017", "date": "2017-07-19", "country": "UY", "place": "Uruguay", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Uruguay's pharmacies start selling cannabis", "description": "Three and a half years after the law passed, registered residents could buy state-licensed cannabis in pharmacies. Home growing and clubs had opened in 2014; this was the route the law had promised to most people. Banks threatened the pharmacies' accounts, and only a few took part.", "score_before": 49, "score_after": 51, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uruguay", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uruguay" }, { "id": "spain-catalonia-club-law-2017", "date": "2017", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Catalonia regulates cannabis clubs", "description": "The Catalan parliament passed a law legalising the growing and distribution of cannabis within registered associations. Spain's Constitutional Court annulled it the next year, ruling that only the national parliament can legislate on drugs.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Spain | Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Spain | https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "samoa-law-reform-2017", "date": "2017", "country": "WS", "place": "Samoa", "category": "debate", "title": "Samoa's Law Reform Commission backs medicinal cannabis", "description": "The commission's final report recommended a regulated regime for medicinal cannabis. The government did not act on it and turned down a cultivation proposal in 2019.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Samoa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Samoa" }, { "id": "lesotho-first-licences-2017", "date": "2017", "country": "LS", "place": "Lesotho", "category": "medical", "title": "Lesotho issues Africa's first medical cannabis licences", "description": "Lesotho, where cannabis has long been a major cash crop, became the first country in Africa to license its cultivation for medical use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lesotho", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lesotho" }, { "id": "mexico-medical-2017", "date": "2017-06-19", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "medical", "title": "Mexico legalises medical cannabis", "description": "A reform of the health law allowed medicines containing cannabis. The rules needed to put it into practice were not issued until 2021.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "south-africa-western-cape-2017", "date": "2017-03-31", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "easing", "title": "A South African high court declares the ban on private use invalid", "description": "The Western Cape High Court ruled that banning adults from using and growing cannabis at home violated the right to privacy. The order was suspended while the government appealed; the Constitutional Court confirmed it the next year.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "argentina-medical-law-2017", "date": "2017-03", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "medical", "title": "Argentina passes a medical cannabis law", "description": "Law 27.350 set up a national research programme and allowed cannabis oil to be imported for patients. It did not allow growing, which patients' families kept doing illegally until the 2020 registry.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina" }, { "id": "germany-medical-2017", "date": "2017-03-10", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "medical", "title": "Germany legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Doctors may prescribe cannabis flower and extracts for serious illness, dispensed by pharmacies and reimbursed by health insurers after approval.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany" }, { "id": "cyprus-medical-oil-2017", "date": "2017-01", "country": "CY", "place": "Cyprus", "category": "medical", "title": "Cyprus allows cannabis oil for cancer patients", "description": "The health ministry authorised cannabis oil for patients with advanced cancer.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Cyprus", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Cyprus" }, { "id": "lithuania-criminalisation-2017", "date": "2017-01-01", "country": "LT", "place": "Lithuania", "category": "tightening", "title": "Lithuania makes any possession a crime", "description": "Until 2017 a small amount for personal use was an administrative matter. Since then possession of any quantity is a criminal offence that leaves a criminal record.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Liberties — Lithuania drug policy | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lithuania", "source_urls": "https://liberties.eu/en/news/lithuania-drug-policy/13642 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lithuania" }, { "id": "belarus-cultivation-ban-2016", "date": "2016-12-31", "country": "BY", "place": "Belarus", "category": "tightening", "title": "Belarus bans growing cannabis", "description": "A ban on cultivating cannabis took effect, closing off hemp farming as well.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belarus", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belarus" }, { "id": "us-legalisation-wave-2016", "date": "2016-11-08", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Four more US states legalise, including California", "description": "Voters in California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine approved legal cannabis on the same day, putting about a fifth of Americans in states with legal possession and sales. Most of the states that are legal today followed over the next decade.", "score_before": 24, "score_after": 34, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "colombia-medical-2016", "date": "2016-07-06", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "medical", "title": "Colombia legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Law 1787 created a licensing system for growing, processing and exporting cannabis for medical and scientific use.", "score_before": 38, "score_after": 39, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "turkey-cannabinoid-medicines-2016", "date": "2016", "country": "TR", "place": "Türkiye", "category": "medical", "title": "Turkey allows cannabinoid medicines", "description": "Regulations permitted cannabinoid medicines such as Sativex on prescription, and allowed hemp growing in nineteen provinces.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Turkey", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Turkey" }, { "id": "seychelles-misuse-of-drugs-2016", "date": "2016", "country": "SC", "place": "Seychelles", "category": "other", "title": "Seychelles passes a new Misuse of Drugs Act", "description": "Parliament unanimously replaced the 1990 act. Cannabis was placed in Class B, and the law put more weight on treatment for users.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Seychelles", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Seychelles" }, { "id": "philippines-drug-war-2016", "date": "2016-07-01", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Philippines launches a nationwide war on drugs", "description": "Police began Project Double Barrel and Oplan Tokhang, targeting alleged users as well as dealers. Thousands of drug suspects were killed over the following years; a UN investigation found widespread rights violations, weak due-process safeguards and near impunity.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UN Human Rights Office — report details killings and impunity in the Philippines", "source_urls": "https://bangkok.ohchr.org/news/2020/news-release-philippines-un-report-details-widespread-human-rights-violations-and" }, { "id": "north-macedonia-medical-2016", "date": "2016", "country": "MK", "place": "North Macedonia", "category": "medical", "title": "North Macedonia legalises medical cannabis", "description": "An amendment allowed cannabis products to be prescribed and licensed companies to grow for medical use and export.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in North Macedonia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_North_Macedonia" }, { "id": "jordan-death-penalty-2016", "date": "2016", "country": "JO", "place": "Jordan", "category": "death", "title": "Jordan sets death for working with drug gangs", "description": "A new drugs act made the death penalty mandatory for collaborating with international drug gangs.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jordan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jordan" }, { "id": "guatemala-regulation-rejected-2016", "date": "2016", "country": "GT", "place": "Guatemala", "category": "debate", "title": "Guatemala's Congress rejects regulation", "description": "Four years after President Otto Pérez called for decriminalisation, a congressional commission rejected a bill to regulate cannabis as unfeasible, inopportune and unconstitutional.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Guatemala", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Guatemala" }, { "id": "costa-rica-home-growing-ruling-2016", "date": "2016", "country": "CR", "place": "Costa Rica", "category": "easing", "title": "A Costa Rican court upholds growing for personal use", "description": "The ruling confirmed that cultivating cannabis at home for one's own use is not punishable, in line with the country's long-standing tolerance of personal use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Costa Rica", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Costa_Rica" }, { "id": "australia-medical-2016", "date": "2016-02-24", "country": "AU", "place": "Australia", "category": "medical", "title": "Australia legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Parliament amended the Narcotic Drugs Act to allow cannabis to be grown and supplied for medical use. Access was slow at first but is now easy through telehealth clinics.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Australia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Australia" }, { "id": "austria-therapy-2016", "date": "2016-01-01", "country": "AT", "place": "Austria", "category": "easing", "title": "Austria sends users to the health authority, not court", "description": "Possession remains a crime, but for small amounts for personal use police now report the case to the health authority, and proceedings are dropped if the person cooperates.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Suchtmittelgesetz (SMG) — consolidated federal law (RIS) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Austria", "source_urls": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10011040 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Austria" }, { "id": "chile-medical-decree-2015", "date": "2015-12", "country": "CL", "place": "Chile", "category": "medical", "title": "Chile allows cannabis medicines", "description": "A decree moved cannabis out of the list of banned substances so that medicines made from it can be produced and sold in pharmacies on prescription.", "score_before": 25, "score_after": 26, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Chile", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Chile" }, { "id": "mexico-smart-ruling-2015", "date": "2015-11-04", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "easing", "title": "Mexico's Supreme Court lets four people grow and use cannabis", "description": "In a case brought by four members of a civic group, the court held that banning adult personal use violates the right to free development of personality. The ruling applied only to them, but it started the run of cases that ended the ban.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "georgia-no-prison-2015", "date": "2015-10-24", "country": "GE", "place": "Georgia", "category": "easing", "title": "Georgia's Constitutional Court rules out prison for 70 g", "description": "In a case brought by a man facing seven years for 69 g, the court held that imprisonment for possessing up to 70 g of dried cannabis for personal use is unconstitutionally harsh.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Constitutional Court of Georgia — judicial acts | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Georgia (country)", "source_urls": "https://constcourt.ge/en/judicial-acts?legal=1212 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Georgia_(country)" }, { "id": "croatia-medical-2015", "date": "2015-10-15", "country": "HR", "place": "Croatia", "category": "medical", "title": "Croatia legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Doctors may prescribe cannabis-based medicines for a short list of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, cancer and epilepsy.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "MJBizDaily — Croatia legalizes medical cannabis sales | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Croatia", "source_urls": "https://mjbizdaily.com/croatia-legalizes-medical-cannabis-sales/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Croatia" }, { "id": "latvia-petition-2015", "date": "2015-09-03", "country": "LV", "place": "Latvia", "category": "debate", "title": "Latvia's parliament declines to decriminalise", "description": "A citizens' petition for decriminalisation gathered the 10,000 signatures needed to reach parliament, which turned it down.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Latvia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Latvia" }, { "id": "colombia-twenty-plants-2015", "date": "2015-08", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "easing", "title": "Colombia's Supreme Court protects growing up to 20 plants", "description": "The court ruled that growing up to 20 plants for personal use is not a crime, matching the long-protected personal dose of 20 g. No licence or registration is needed.", "score_before": 30, "score_after": 38, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "IDPC — Colombia decriminalises marijuana cultivation up to 20 plants | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://idpc.net/news/2015/08/colombia-decriminalizes-marijuana-cultivation-up-to-20-plants | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "chile-home-growing-vote-2015", "date": "2015-07", "country": "CL", "place": "Chile", "category": "debate", "title": "Chile's lower house votes for home growing", "description": "Deputies approved by 68 votes to 39 a bill to let each household grow up to six plants. It never completed its passage through Congress.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Chile", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Chile" }, { "id": "uganda-narcotics-act-2015", "date": "2015", "country": "UG", "place": "Uganda", "category": "tightening", "title": "Uganda passes a new narcotics law", "description": "The Act kept recreational use banned, with heavy sentences, while allowing cannabis to be grown under licence for medical and scientific purposes.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uganda", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uganda" }, { "id": "spain-public-safety-law-2015", "date": "2015-07-01", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "tightening", "title": "Spain raises fines for public possession", "description": "A new public safety law, widely known as the gag law, set the fine for having or using drugs in public at €601 to €30,000, and removed the option of avoiding it by entering treatment.", "score_before": 33, "score_after": 31, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Ley Orgánica 4/2015 de protección de la seguridad ciudadana (BOE) | Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442 | https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "jordan-first-time-users-2015", "date": "2015", "country": "JO", "place": "Jordan", "category": "easing", "title": "Jordan treats first-time users differently", "description": "An amendment distinguished for the first time between someone caught using drugs once and a repeat offender.", "score_before": 1, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jordan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jordan" }, { "id": "india-uttarakhand-hemp-2015", "date": "2015", "country": "IN", "place": "India", "category": "other", "title": "An Indian state legalises hemp farming", "description": "Uttarakhand became the first state to allow cannabis to be grown for industrial purposes. Two years later the central government issued its first licence for research cultivation.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in India", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_India" }, { "id": "chile-supreme-court-2015", "date": "2015-06", "country": "CL", "place": "Chile", "category": "easing", "title": "Chile's Supreme Court accepts growing for personal use", "description": "The court acquitted a woman convicted for the plants on her terrace, ruling that growing for one's own use harms nobody else and is not the offence the drug law is aimed at. Courts have treated it as a defence since.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 25, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Chile", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Chile" }, { "id": "malta-depenalisation-2015", "date": "2015-04-15", "country": "MT", "place": "Malta", "category": "easing", "title": "Malta stops prosecuting small possession", "description": "The Drug Dependence Act turned possession of up to 3.5 g into a fine of €50 to €100 decided by a commissioner, not a criminal court. Growing a single plant no longer carried a mandatory prison term.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malta", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malta" }, { "id": "jamaica-ganja-reform-2015", "date": "2015-04-15", "country": "JM", "place": "Jamaica", "category": "easing", "title": "Jamaica decriminalises ganja", "description": "Possessing up to 2 oz became a ticket with a small fixed penalty: no arrest and no criminal record. Each household may grow five plants, Rastafari may use ganja as a sacrament, and a licensed medical industry was set up.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 35, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Ministry of Justice — Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015 fact sheet | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jamaica", "source_urls": "https://ncst.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Ganja-FACT-SHEET-Amendment-to-Dangerous-Drug-ACT.pdf | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jamaica" }, { "id": "czechia-ten-grams-2014", "date": "2014-03", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Czech Supreme Court lowers the threshold to 10 g", "description": "After the Constitutional Court struck down the government's table of amounts, the Supreme Court issued its own guidance for judges. For cannabis the line between an administrative offence and a crime dropped from 15 g to 10 g of dried flower. Five plants stayed the limit for growing.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "italy-constitutional-court-2014", "date": "2014-02-12", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "easing", "title": "Italy's Constitutional Court strikes down the 2006 drug law", "description": "The court annulled the law that had put cannabis in the same class as heroin and cocaine. The earlier, milder rules came back, and thousands of sentences had to be reviewed.", "score_before": 18, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "DPNSEE — Italy, the legal map on decriminalisation policies (PDF) | Wikipedia (Italian) — Legge Fini-Giovanardi", "source_urls": "https://dpnsee.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Italy-The-legal-map-on-decriminalisation-policies.pdf | https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legge_Fini-Giovanardi" }, { "id": "romania-penal-code-2014", "date": "2014-02-01", "country": "RO", "place": "Romania", "category": "easing", "title": "Romania's new penal code lowers the penalty for possession", "description": "Possession for personal use had carried two to five years in prison. It became three months to two years, or a fine.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Romania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Romania" }, { "id": "uruguay-legalisation-2013", "date": "2013-12-23", "country": "UY", "place": "Uruguay", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Uruguay becomes the first country to legalise", "description": "President Mujica signed Law 19.172, which put the whole chain under state control. Registered residents choose one of three routes: growing six plants at home, joining a club, or buying up to 40 g a month in pharmacies. Possession for personal use had not been a crime since 1974.", "score_before": 32, "score_after": 49, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Ley N° 19.172 — Regulación y control del cannabis (IMPO) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uruguay", "source_urls": "https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/19172-2013 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uruguay" }, { "id": "switzerland-fine-2013", "date": "2013-10-01", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "easing", "title": "Switzerland introduces a CHF 100 fine", "description": "Under an amendment passed in 2012, adults caught using cannabis with up to 10 g on them pay a fixed CHF 100 fine and are not prosecuted. Courts later held that simply possessing up to 10 g is not punishable at all.", "score_before": 16, "score_after": 23, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "ch.ch (Swiss authorities) — Cannabis | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://www.ch.ch/en/safety-and-justice/police/cannabis | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "us-cole-memo-2013", "date": "2013-08-29", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "easing", "title": "The US Justice Department stands back from legal states", "description": "The Cole memorandum told federal prosecutors not to interfere with state-legal cannabis businesses that kept to a list of priorities. It was rescinded in 2018, but the hands-off practice continued.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "czechia-constitutional-court-2013", "date": "2013-07-23", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "other", "title": "The Czech Constitutional Court strikes down the threshold table", "description": "The court ruled that what counts as a crime must be defined by law or by the courts, not by a government regulation, and annulled the 2010 table of amounts. The 2010 penalties themselves stayed in place.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "slovenia-cannabinoids-2013", "date": "2013", "country": "SI", "place": "Slovenia", "category": "medical", "title": "Slovenia reclassifies cannabinoids for medical use", "description": "Cannabinoids were moved to the group of drugs that may be used in medicine, which allowed doctors to prescribe cannabinoid medicines.", "score_before": 21, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovenia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Slovenia" }, { "id": "romania-medical-2013", "date": "2013", "country": "RO", "place": "Romania", "category": "medical", "title": "Romania allows low-THC cannabis medicines", "description": "A limited law permitted medicines derived from cannabis with less than 0.2% THC. In practice almost nothing became available.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Romania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Romania" }, { "id": "lithuania-hemp-2013", "date": "2013", "country": "LT", "place": "Lithuania", "category": "other", "title": "Lithuania lifts its ban on growing hemp", "description": "Lithuania had been the only EU country to prohibit industrial hemp. Products with a little THC were allowed from 2021.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lithuania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lithuania" }, { "id": "hungary-criminal-code-2013", "date": "2013-07-01", "country": "HU", "place": "Hungary", "category": "tightening", "title": "Hungary's new criminal code makes consumption a crime again", "description": "Consumption itself became punishable with up to two years in prison, and diversion into treatment was limited to once every two years.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 10, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Hungary", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Hungary" }, { "id": "greece-law-4139-2013", "date": "2013", "country": "GR", "place": "Greece", "category": "easing", "title": "Greece makes personal use a minor offence", "description": "Law 4139 cut the penalty for having or growing a quantity that indicates personal use to at most five months in prison, normally suspended, and kept the conviction off the ordinary criminal record.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Greece", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Greece" }, { "id": "brunei-class-a-2013", "date": "2013", "country": "BN", "place": "Brunei", "category": "tightening", "title": "Brunei moves cannabis to Class A", "description": "An amended Misuse of Drugs Act put cannabis in the most serious class, alongside the introduction of a sharia penal code.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brunei", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brunei" }, { "id": "ecuador-threshold-table-2013", "date": "2013-06", "country": "EC", "place": "Ecuador", "category": "easing", "title": "Ecuador sets personal-use thresholds", "description": "The drug-control council published a table of amounts presumed to be for personal use, 10 g for cannabis, to give effect to the 2008 constitution's rule that users must not be criminalised.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ecuador", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ecuador" }, { "id": "czechia-medical-2013", "date": "2013-04-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "medical", "title": "Czechia legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Cannabis became available on prescription from pharmacies. Supply was scarce and expensive for years; insurance cover came later.", "score_before": 28, "score_after": 29, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "SAKL — State Agency for Medical Cannabis | Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://www.sakl.cz/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "italy-medical-2013", "date": "2013-01-23", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "medical", "title": "Italy legalises medical cannabis", "description": "A health ministry decree allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis, dispensed by pharmacies. Since 2016 part of the supply has been grown by the army's pharmaceutical plant in Florence.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Italy", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Italy" }, { "id": "singapore-death-penalty-discretion-2013", "date": "2013-01-01", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "death", "title": "Singapore narrows the mandatory death penalty", "description": "Courts gained discretion to impose life imprisonment instead of death on a qualifying drug courier who substantially assists the authorities or whose mental responsibility was substantially impaired. The substantial-assistance route also requires at least 15 strokes of the cane; the impaired-responsibility route does not.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Singapore Statutes Online — Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2012", "source_urls": "https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Acts-Supp/30-2012/Published/20121227170000?DocDate=20121227170000" }, { "id": "croatia-misdemeanour-2013", "date": "2013-01-01", "country": "HR", "place": "Croatia", "category": "easing", "title": "Croatia makes personal possession a misdemeanour", "description": "A new criminal code took possession of a small amount for personal use out of criminal law. It is punished with a fine, though a large one. Growing even a few plants is still a crime.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Croatia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Croatia" }, { "id": "us-colorado-washington-2012", "date": "2012-11-06", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Colorado and Washington become the first US states to legalise", "description": "Voters in both states approved possession by adults and a licensed market, the first anywhere in the world. Shops opened in 2014, and the federal government chose not to block them.", "score_before": 16, "score_after": 24, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "netherlands-residents-only-2012", "date": "2012", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Netherlands restricts coffeeshops to residents", "description": "A new rule barred non-residents from coffeeshops, first in the southern provinces. Enforcement was left to mayors, and Amsterdam and most large cities never applied it.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Netherlands | Wikipedia — Drug policy of the Netherlands", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands" }, { "id": "sweden-sativex-2011", "date": "2011-12-22", "country": "SE", "place": "Sweden", "category": "medical", "title": "Sweden approves a cannabis-based medicine", "description": "Sativex was approved for spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Other cannabis medicines need an individual licence, and only a few dozen are granted each year.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sweden", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sweden" }, { "id": "poland-prosecutor-discretion-2011", "date": "2011-12-09", "country": "PL", "place": "Poland", "category": "easing", "title": "Poland lets prosecutors drop small cases", "description": "A new article in the drug law allows a prosecutor to discontinue a case involving a small amount for personal use. It is discretionary and has been used sparingly.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Drugreporter — Polish drug policy by numbers | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Poland", "source_urls": "https://drogriporter.hu/en/polish-drug-policy-by-numbers/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Poland" }, { "id": "venezuela-drug-law-2010", "date": "2010-09-15", "country": "VE", "place": "Venezuela", "category": "other", "title": "Venezuela's Organic Law on Drugs takes effect", "description": "Holding up to 20 g of marijuana for personal use is not punished with prison; the person is referred for treatment or other security measures. Above that it is treated as possession for supply.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Venezuela", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Venezuela" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-implementing-regulations-2010", "date": "2010-05-24", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "other", "title": "Saudi Arabia issues detailed anti-narcotics regulations", "description": "Implementing regulations set procedures for licensed narcotic medicines, border controls, investigations and addiction treatment under the 2005 law. Cannabis remained a prohibited plant rather than an approved medicine.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Saudi Bureau of Experts — Implementing Regulations for the Law of Combating Narcotics", "source_urls": "https://laws.boe.gov.sa/BoeLaws/Laws/LawDetails/be479758-9a84-4e94-b1d3-a9a700f19454/1" }, { "id": "indonesia-rehabilitation-guidance-2010", "date": "2010-04-07", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "easing", "title": "Indonesia's Supreme Court issues rehabilitation guidance", "description": "A Supreme Court circular told judges when drug users could be placed in medical and social rehabilitation. Its indicators included no evidence of dealing and no more than 5 g of cannabis at arrest, but the guidance did not decriminalise possession or guarantee diversion.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Supreme Court of Indonesia — Circular No. 4 of 2010", "source_urls": "https://jdih.mahkamahagung.go.id/index.php/legal-product/sema-nomor-4-tahun-2010/detail" }, { "id": "czechia-thresholds-2010", "date": "2010-01-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "easing", "title": "Czechia sets decriminalised amounts", "description": "A new criminal code and a government decree defined what counts as a small amount: up to 15 g or five plants became an administrative offence with a fine, not a crime.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 28, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "colombia-constitution-amended-2009", "date": "2009-12", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Colombia writes a ban on drug use into its constitution", "description": "At President Uribe's urging, Congress amended the constitution to prohibit carrying and consuming drugs. No criminal penalty was attached, and the Constitutional Court later confirmed that the personal dose still cannot be punished.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "indonesia-narcotics-law-2009", "date": "2009-10-12", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Indonesia adopts its current Narcotics Law", "description": "Law 35 kept cannabis in the most restricted class and prohibited medical use. Personal use carries up to four years or rehabilitation, while possession or growing carries four to twelve years and large-scale supply can bring life imprisonment or death.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Government of Indonesia — Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics", "source_urls": "https://peraturan.go.id/id/uu-no-35-tahun-2009" }, { "id": "argentina-arriola-2009", "date": "2009-08-25", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "easing", "title": "Argentina's Supreme Court protects private use", "description": "In the Arriola ruling the court held that punishing an adult for holding a small amount for personal use in private is unconstitutional. The law itself was never changed and no gram limit was set, so judges decide case by case.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina | Wikipedia (Spanish) — Fallo Arriola", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina | https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallo_Arriola" }, { "id": "mexico-small-amounts-2009", "date": "2009-08-21", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "easing", "title": "Mexico stops prosecuting up to 5 g", "description": "A reform of the health law set personal-use thresholds for all drugs. Someone holding up to 5 g of cannabis is not prosecuted and is referred to treatment instead.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "CMS Expert Guide — Cannabis law and legislation in Mexico | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-a-legal-roadmap-to-cannabis/mexico | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "armenia-use-decriminalised-2009", "date": "2009", "country": "AM", "place": "Armenia", "category": "easing", "title": "Armenia decriminalises drug use", "description": "Having used cannabis stopped being a crime. Possession still brings a heavy fine, and prison of about two months if it is not paid.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Armenia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Armenia" }, { "id": "uk-class-b-2009", "date": "2009-01-26", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "tightening", "title": "The United Kingdom moves cannabis back to Class B", "description": "Five years after downgrading it, the government returned cannabis to Class B against the advice of its own drugs advisory council. The maximum for possession went back up from two to five years in prison.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom" }, { "id": "switzerland-hemp-initiative-2008", "date": "2008-11-30", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "debate", "title": "Swiss voters reject legalisation", "description": "A popular initiative to legalise possession, use and growing for personal needs was rejected by 63% of voters.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "moldova-administrative-offence-2008", "date": "2008", "country": "MD", "place": "Moldova", "category": "easing", "title": "Moldova makes drug use an administrative offence", "description": "A new code of administrative offences took simple use, and possession of small amounts without intent to supply, out of criminal law. The penalty is a small fine or a few hours of community work.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Moldova", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Moldova" }, { "id": "lesotho-drugs-of-abuse-act-2008", "date": "2008", "country": "LS", "place": "Lesotho", "category": "other", "title": "Lesotho passes the Drugs of Abuse Act", "description": "The Act replaced the Dangerous Medicines Act of 1973 and brought the law into line with the UN conventions. It also allowed licences for medical and scientific use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lesotho", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lesotho" }, { "id": "austria-medical-cultivation-2008", "date": "2008", "country": "AT", "place": "Austria", "category": "medical", "title": "Austria allows cannabis to be grown for medicine", "description": "Parliament permitted cultivation for scientific and medical purposes, in practice by a single state agency that supplies the pharmaceutical industry. Patients have access only to a few cannabinoid medicines.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Austria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Austria" }, { "id": "israel-medical-programme-2007", "date": "2007", "country": "IL", "place": "Israel", "category": "medical", "title": "Israel sets up its medical cannabis programme", "description": "The health ministry began licensing patients and growers on a regular basis. The programme grew into one of the largest in the world relative to population.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Israel", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Israel" }, { "id": "brazil-no-prison-for-users-2006", "date": "2006-08-23", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "easing", "title": "Brazil ends prison for users", "description": "A new drug law kept possession for personal use a crime but removed prison as a penalty, replacing it with a warning, community service or an educational course. Penalties for dealing went up.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brazil" }, { "id": "georgia-zero-tolerance-2006", "date": "2006", "country": "GE", "place": "Georgia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Georgia adopts zero tolerance", "description": "The Saakashvili government began forcing people to take street drug tests by the tens of thousands a year. A positive result meant a heavy fine, and a second within a year meant a criminal case.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Georgia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Georgia_(country)" }, { "id": "bulgaria-penal-code-2006", "date": "2006", "country": "BG", "place": "Bulgaria", "category": "easing", "title": "Bulgaria sets one to six years for possession", "description": "After two years in which any possession was treated as a serious crime, the penal code was amended: one to six years in prison, or a fine in minor cases that still counts as a conviction.", "score_before": 1, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Bulgaria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Bulgaria" }, { "id": "philippines-death-penalty-abolished-2006", "date": "2006-06-24", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "death", "title": "The Philippines abolishes the death penalty again", "description": "Republic Act 9346 prohibited death sentences and substituted life imprisonment for capital offences under the drug law. People whose sentences were reduced to life imprisonment under the Act were made ineligible for parole.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Republic Act No. 9346", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2006/ra_9346_2006.html" }, { "id": "italy-fini-giovanardi-2006", "date": "2006-02", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "tightening", "title": "Italy puts cannabis in the same class as hard drugs", "description": "The Fini-Giovanardi law removed the distinction between soft and hard drugs. Anyone holding more than a fixed threshold was presumed to be dealing and faced the same sentences as for heroin.", "score_before": 21, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "DPNSEE — Italy, the legal map on decriminalisation policies (PDF) | Wikipedia (Italian) — Legge Fini-Giovanardi", "source_urls": "https://dpnsee.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Italy-The-legal-map-on-decriminalisation-policies.pdf | https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legge_Fini-Giovanardi" }, { "id": "russia-six-grams-2006", "date": "2006-02-07", "country": "RU", "place": "Russia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Russia cuts the decriminalised amount to 6 g", "description": "Less than two years after setting generous thresholds, the government lowered them sharply. Above 6 g of cannabis, possession is a crime again.", "score_before": 15, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-anti-narcotics-law-2005", "date": "2005-08-13", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "other", "title": "Saudi Arabia codifies its modern anti-narcotics law", "description": "Royal Decree M/39 created the present framework. Personal possession or use carries six months to two years in prison; supply carries long terms, and importing, exporting, manufacturing or receiving drugs for distribution can be punished by death. Cannabis is a prohibited plant.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Saudi Bureau of Experts — Law of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances", "source_urls": "https://laws.boe.gov.sa/BoeLaws/Laws/LawDetails/221b3286-a3c6-4ea4-97c7-a9a700f18273/2" }, { "id": "north-korea-narcotics-law-2005", "date": "2005", "country": "KP", "place": "North Korea", "category": "other", "title": "North Korea's Narcotics Control Law lists cannabis", "description": "The law names cannabis and hemp resin as narcotics. Low-THC hemp stayed legal, and reports from the early 2010s suggested the ban on smoking it was often not enforced.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in North Korea", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_North_Korea" }, { "id": "liechtenstein-hemp-ban-2005", "date": "2005", "country": "LI", "place": "Liechtenstein", "category": "tightening", "title": "Liechtenstein bans hemp entirely", "description": "A decree extended the ban to all use of hemp, including as cattle feed, because of the THC it contains.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Liechtenstein", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Liechtenstein" }, { "id": "chile-law-20000-2005", "date": "2005-02-16", "country": "CL", "place": "Chile", "category": "other", "title": "Chile passes Law 20.000", "description": "The new drug law kept private personal use unpunished and created a lesser offence of small- scale dealing. It set no gram threshold, so police and prosecutors decide who is a user and who is a dealer.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Ley 20.000 — tráfico ilícito de estupefacientes (Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Chile", "source_urls": "https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=235507 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Chile" }, { "id": "belgium-three-grams-2005", "date": "2005-01-25", "country": "BE", "place": "Belgium", "category": "easing", "title": "Belgium fixes the limit at 3 g or one plant", "description": "After the Constitutional Court struck out part of the 2003 law as too vague, a joint directive of the justice minister and prosecutors set a clear line: up to 3 g or one plant, held by an adult without nuisance, gets only a simplified police record.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belgium", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belgium" }, { "id": "bulgaria-personal-dose-abolished-2004", "date": "2004", "country": "BG", "place": "Bulgaria", "category": "tightening", "title": "Bulgaria abolishes the personal dose", "description": "The law had exempted a loosely defined single dose for personal use from punishment. The exemption was removed, making Bulgarian law among the harshest in Europe.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 1, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Bulgaria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Bulgaria" }, { "id": "algeria-law-04-18-2004", "date": "2004", "country": "DZ", "place": "Algeria", "category": "other", "title": "Algeria passes its drug law", "description": "Law 04-18 bans growing, trading and possessing cannabis, with an exception for authorised medical use. A user who agrees to treatment can avoid prosecution.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Algeria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Algeria" }, { "id": "denmark-fines-2004", "date": "2004-06", "country": "DK", "place": "Denmark", "category": "tightening", "title": "Denmark replaces warnings with fines", "description": "For 35 years a first offence of holding a small amount for personal use had normally ended with a warning. A change to the drug law made a fine the standard response, rising with each repeat offence.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Denmark", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Denmark" }, { "id": "russia-decriminalisation-2004", "date": "2004-05-12", "country": "RU", "place": "Russia", "category": "easing", "title": "Russia decriminalises small amounts", "description": "New thresholds made possession of up to 20 g of cannabis an administrative offence punished by a fine, not a crime.", "score_before": 8, "score_after": 15, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "uk-class-c-2004", "date": "2004-01-29", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "easing", "title": "The United Kingdom downgrades cannabis to Class C", "description": "Cannabis moved from Class B to Class C. The maximum for possession fell from five to two years, and police were told that adults caught with a small amount should normally get a warning, not be arrested.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom" }, { "id": "netherlands-medical-2003", "date": "2003-09-01", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "medical", "title": "Dutch pharmacies start dispensing medical cannabis", "description": "The Netherlands became the first country where pharmacies supplied cannabis flower on prescription, grown under contract for a government office.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Netherlands", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands" }, { "id": "peru-eight-grams-2003", "date": "2003", "country": "PE", "place": "Peru", "category": "easing", "title": "Peru fixes the personal-use limit at 8 g", "description": "A change to the criminal code spelled out the amounts that count as possession for one's own use and are not punished: 8 g of marijuana or 2 g of its derivatives.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Peru", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Peru" }, { "id": "belgium-law-2003", "date": "2003-05-03", "country": "BE", "place": "Belgium", "category": "easing", "title": "Belgium writes the low priority into law", "description": "A new law, followed by a royal decree, made possession by adults for personal use the lowest category of offence, punished only by a police fine, and extended the tolerance to a plant grown at home.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 24, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belgium", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belgium" }, { "id": "hungary-diversion-widened-2003", "date": "2003-03-01", "country": "HU", "place": "Hungary", "category": "easing", "title": "Hungary reopens diversion for all users", "description": "A new government reversed the 1999 tightening: anyone caught with a small amount for personal use could again avoid prosecution by completing six months of treatment or counselling.", "score_before": 8, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Hungary", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Hungary" }, { "id": "estonia-misdemeanour-2002", "date": "2002-09-01", "country": "EE", "place": "Estonia", "category": "easing", "title": "Estonia makes small amounts a misdemeanour", "description": "A new penal code treats possession of a small quantity for personal use, later set at 7.5 g, as a misdemeanour punished by a fine.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Estonia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Estonia" }, { "id": "philippines-drugs-act-2002", "date": "2002-06-07", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Philippines adopts its present drug law", "description": "Republic Act 9165 replaced the 1972 law, created the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and lowered the life-or-death threshold from 750 g to 500 g of marijuana. Below 300 g, possession still carried 12 years and one day to 20 years; use remained a separate offence.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Republic Act No. 9165 | Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Philippines", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2002/ra_9165_2002.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Philippines" }, { "id": "indonesia-war-on-drugs-2002", "date": "2002-03", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Indonesia launches a national war on drugs", "description": "President Megawati's government established an independent National Narcotics Board and began a nationwide enforcement campaign that later pursued the target of a \"drug-free Indonesia\" by 2015.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Transnational Institute — Cannabis in Indonesia, patterns in consumption, production and policies", "source_urls": "https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_44_13012016_map_web.pdf" }, { "id": "canada-medical-access-2001", "date": "2001-07-30", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "medical", "title": "Canada opens legal medical access", "description": "After courts ruled that a ban with no medical exemption was unconstitutional, federal regulations let authorised patients possess cannabis and grow their own or name a grower. Recreational possession stayed a crime.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 15, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "spain-social-clubs-2001", "date": "2001", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "easing", "title": "Cannabis social clubs take root in Spain", "description": "Because growing and sharing among a closed group of users is not treated as trafficking, associations began cultivating collectively for their members. The first, ARSEC, was founded in Barcelona in the early 1990s; hundreds opened in the 2000s, mostly in Catalonia and the Basque Country, tolerated but never legalised.", "score_before": 30, "score_after": 33, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Spain", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Spain" }, { "id": "portugal-decriminalisation-2001", "date": "2001-07-01", "country": "PT", "place": "Portugal", "category": "easing", "title": "Portugal decriminalises all drugs", "description": "Possessing up to a ten-day supply, 25 g of cannabis flower, stopped being a crime. Police confiscate it and refer the person to a dissuasion commission, which can suspend the case or impose a fine. Growing and selling remain crimes.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 24, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Lei n.º 30/2000 — regime jurídico do consumo de estupefacientes (Diário da República) | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Portugal", "source_urls": "https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei/30-2000-599720 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Portugal" }, { "id": "jamaica-ganja-commission-2001", "date": "2001", "country": "JM", "place": "Jamaica", "category": "debate", "title": "Jamaica's National Commission on Ganja recommends decriminalisation", "description": "The commission chaired by Barry Chevannes found overwhelming public support for allowing adults to use small amounts in private and for sacramental use. The United States warned against it, and nothing was done for fourteen years.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jamaica", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jamaica" }, { "id": "finland-summary-fines-2001", "date": "2001", "country": "FI", "place": "Finland", "category": "easing", "title": "Finland starts handling drug use with on-the-spot fines", "description": "A new offence of drug use let police issue a summary fine without a court hearing. Prosecution for use became rare, though the offence is still recorded.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Finland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Finland" }, { "id": "luxembourg-fines-2001", "date": "2001-04", "country": "LU", "place": "Luxembourg", "category": "easing", "title": "Luxembourg drops prison for personal use", "description": "A reform of the drug law put cannabis in its own, lower category and made using, possessing or buying it for personal use punishable by a fine only. Prison remained for use near schools or in front of minors, and for dealing.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Luxembourg", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Luxembourg" }, { "id": "poland-criminalisation-2000", "date": "2000-12", "country": "PL", "place": "Poland", "category": "tightening", "title": "Poland makes all possession a crime", "description": "An amendment removed the rule that a small amount for personal use went unpunished. Possession of any quantity became a crime with up to three years in prison.", "score_before": 21, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Drugreporter — Polish drug policy by numbers", "source_urls": "https://drogriporter.hu/en/polish-drug-policy-by-numbers/" }, { "id": "canada-parker-2000", "date": "2000-07-31", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "medical", "title": "An Ontario court rules the ban unconstitutional without a medical exemption", "description": "In R v. Parker the Ontario Court of Appeal held that prohibiting possession with no workable exception for patients violated the Charter, and gave Parliament a year to fix it. The medical access regulations of 2001 were the result.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "hungary-diversion-restricted-1999", "date": "1999-03-01", "country": "HU", "place": "Hungary", "category": "tightening", "title": "Hungary restricts diversion to addicts", "description": "The first Orbán government tightened the drug law. Only people diagnosed as dependent could choose treatment over prosecution; occasional users faced the courts.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Hungary", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Hungary" }, { "id": "czechia-recriminalisation-1999", "date": "1999-01-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Czechia makes possession a crime again", "description": "Possession for personal use had not been a crime since 1990. An amendment to the criminal code made holding an amount \"greater than small\" a criminal offence, without saying how much that was; smaller amounts stayed an administrative offence.", "score_before": 25, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "singapore-overseas-consumption-1998", "date": "1998-07-20", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "tightening", "title": "Singapore criminalises residents' drug use abroad", "description": "Section 8A extended the consumption offence beyond Singapore. Citizens and permanent residents who test positive after using a controlled drug such as cannabis overseas can be prosecuted as though the consumption happened in Singapore.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Singapore Statutes Online — Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 1998", "source_urls": "https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Acts-Supp/20-1998/Published/19980717?DocDate=19980717" }, { "id": "uruguay-reasonable-quantity-1998", "date": "1998", "country": "UY", "place": "Uruguay", "category": "easing", "title": "Uruguay widens the personal-use exemption", "description": "An amendment replaced the \"minimal quantity\" of the 1974 decree with a \"reasonable quantity\" for personal use, judged by the court in each case.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uruguay", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uruguay" }, { "id": "belgium-lowest-priority-1998", "date": "1998-04", "country": "BE", "place": "Belgium", "category": "easing", "title": "Belgium gives cannabis possession the lowest priority", "description": "A ministerial directive told prosecutors to treat adults holding cannabis for personal use as the lowest priority. A 2003 law and later directives fixed this at 3 g or one plant, usually ending in nothing more than a police record.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belgium", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belgium" }, { "id": "austria-narcotics-act-1998", "date": "1998-01-01", "country": "AT", "place": "Austria", "category": "easing", "title": "Austria adopts \"therapy instead of punishment\"", "description": "The Narcotic Substances Act replaced the 1951 law. Prosecutors were required to drop a first case of possessing a small amount for personal use, on condition of a health assessment.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Suchtmittelgesetz (SMG) — consolidated federal law (RIS)", "source_urls": "https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10011040" }, { "id": "poland-drug-law-1997", "date": "1997-10", "country": "PL", "place": "Poland", "category": "tightening", "title": "Poland criminalises possession, with an exception", "description": "Under the 1985 law possessing drugs had not been an offence at all. A new law made it one, but exempted anyone holding a small amount for their own use. The exemption lasted three years.", "score_before": 27, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Drugreporter — Polish drug policy by numbers | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Poland", "source_urls": "https://drogriporter.hu/en/polish-drug-policy-by-numbers/ | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Poland" }, { "id": "indonesia-narcotics-law-1997", "date": "1997-09-01", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "death", "title": "Indonesia introduces Class I and the death penalty", "description": "Law 22 put cannabis in Class I, ending its restricted medical use and permitting it only for research. It doubled the maximum sentence for personal use to four years, set long terms for possession and cultivation, and introduced life imprisonment or death for serious supply offences.", "score_before": 3, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Government of Indonesia — Law No. 22 of 1997 on Narcotics", "source_urls": "https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/46016/uu-no-22-tahun-1997Narkotika" }, { "id": "pakistan-narcotics-act-1997", "date": "1997", "country": "PK", "place": "Pakistan", "category": "tightening", "title": "Pakistan passes the Control of Narcotic Substances Act", "description": "The Act, still in force, set prison terms for producing, making and distributing cannabis, replacing the patchwork left by the 1979 prohibition order.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Pakistan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Pakistan" }, { "id": "us-california-medical-1996", "date": "1996-11-05", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "medical", "title": "California legalises medical cannabis", "description": "Proposition 215 let patients with a doctor's recommendation possess and grow cannabis, the first state medical law. Dozens of states followed, and dispensaries became the first legal shops in the country.", "score_before": 14, "score_after": 16, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "netherlands-five-grams-1996", "date": "1996", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Netherlands cuts the tolerated amount to 5 g", "description": "New rules for coffeeshops cut the amount they may sell to one person in a day, and the amount a person may carry without being prosecuted, from 30 g to 5 g, and capped a shop's stock at 500 g.", "score_before": 39, "score_after": 37, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Government of the Netherlands — Toleration policy regarding soft drugs and coffee shops | Wikipedia — Opium Law", "source_urls": "https://www.government.nl/topics/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Law" }, { "id": "laos-ban-1996", "date": "1996", "country": "LA", "place": "Laos", "category": "ban", "title": "Laos bans cannabis", "description": "Like its neighbour Cambodia, Laos prohibited cannabis in the 1990s after centuries of use as a kitchen herb.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Laos", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Laos" }, { "id": "cambodia-ban-1996", "date": "1996", "country": "KH", "place": "Cambodia", "category": "ban", "title": "Cambodia bans cannabis", "description": "Cannabis had been sold openly in markets and used in cooking. Under international pressure, a drug control law made it illegal, though enforcement stayed lax for years.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Cambodia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Cambodia" }, { "id": "chile-private-use-1995", "date": "1995", "country": "CL", "place": "Chile", "category": "easing", "title": "Chile stops punishing private use", "description": "Law 19.366 made using drugs in private, or holding them for one's own immediate use, not punishable. Using in public became a minor offence with a fine.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Chile", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Chile" }, { "id": "slovakia-possession-crime-1994", "date": "1994", "country": "SK", "place": "Slovakia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Independent Slovakia makes possession a crime", "description": "A year after the split from the Czech Republic, an amendment to the criminal code made possessing drugs for personal use a criminal offence, with up to three years in prison.", "score_before": 25, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovakia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Slovakia" }, { "id": "kenya-narcotics-act-1994", "date": "1994", "country": "KE", "place": "Kenya", "category": "tightening", "title": "Kenya passes its narcotics act", "description": "The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act set the framework still in force, with up to eight years in prison for using cannabis.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Kenya", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Kenya" }, { "id": "colombia-personal-dose-1994", "date": "1994-05-05", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "easing", "title": "Colombia's Constitutional Court protects the personal dose", "description": "The court ruled that punishing an adult for carrying or using a personal dose, 20 g of cannabis, violates the right to free development of personality. The dose itself had been defined in a 1986 law that still punished it.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 30, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "germany-constitutional-court-1994", "date": "1994-03-09", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "easing", "title": "Germany's Constitutional Court limits prosecution of small amounts", "description": "The court upheld the ban on cannabis but said that cases involving a small amount for occasional personal use should generally not be prosecuted. Each state then set its own threshold, mostly around 6 g.", "score_before": 15, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany | Wikipedia (German) — Cannabis-Beschluss", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis-Beschluss" }, { "id": "philippines-death-penalty-1993", "date": "1993-12-31", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "death", "title": "The Philippines restores capital punishment for major drug offences", "description": "Republic Act 7659 made 750 g or more of marijuana subject to reclusion perpetua to death and fines of ₱500,000–10 million. The same range applied to cultivation and other prohibited-drug offences when the Act's quantity rules were met.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Republic Act No. 7659", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1993/ra_7659_1993.html" }, { "id": "singapore-cannabis-mixture-1993", "date": "1993-12-10", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "death", "title": "Singapore creates a capital offence for cannabis mixtures", "description": "An amendment created the legal category of \"cannabis mixture\" to cover cannabis blended with material such as tobacco. Trafficking, importing or exporting more than 1,000 g became punishable by death.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Singapore Court of Appeal — CNB v Public Prosecutor [2020] SGCA 43", "source_urls": "https://www.elitigation.sg/gd/s/2020_SGCA_43" }, { "id": "syria-death-penalty-1993", "date": "1993", "country": "SY", "place": "Syria", "category": "death", "title": "Syria allows the death penalty for drugs", "description": "Law No. 2 of 1993 authorised punishment up to and including death for making, transporting and selling narcotics.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Syria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Syria" }, { "id": "sweden-prison-for-use-1993", "date": "1993-07-01", "country": "SE", "place": "Sweden", "category": "tightening", "title": "Sweden adds prison as a penalty for drug use", "description": "Use had been punishable only by a fine. Adding a prison term of up to six months gave police the power to take a suspect in for a urine or blood test.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sweden", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sweden" }, { "id": "hungary-diversion-1993", "date": "1993", "country": "HU", "place": "Hungary", "category": "easing", "title": "Hungary introduces treatment instead of punishment", "description": "An amendment to the criminal code let people caught with a small amount for their own use avoid prosecution by entering treatment.", "score_before": 8, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Hungary", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Hungary" }, { "id": "italy-referendum-1993", "date": "1993-04-18", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "easing", "title": "Italy votes to decriminalise personal use", "description": "A referendum repealed the criminal penalties for possessing drugs for personal use that had been introduced three years earlier. Possession became an administrative matter again, punished by suspending a driving licence or passport.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "DPNSEE — Italy, the legal map on decriminalisation policies (PDF) | Wikipedia — 1993 Italian referendum", "source_urls": "https://dpnsee.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Italy-The-legal-map-on-decriminalisation-policies.pdf | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Italian_referendum" }, { "id": "portugal-decree-15-93-1993", "date": "1993-01-22", "country": "PT", "place": "Portugal", "category": "easing", "title": "Portugal softens the penalty for use", "description": "Decree-Law 15/93 kept drug use a crime but cut the penalty to at most three months in prison or a fine, and encouraged courts to order treatment instead.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Portugal", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Portugal" }, { "id": "philippines-compassionate-permit-1992", "date": "1992-11-16", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "medical", "title": "The Philippines creates a compassionate-access permit", "description": "A health-department order created a case-specific permit for specialised institutions and medical societies to obtain unregistered medicines for terminally or seriously ill patients. This general scheme later became the only route cited for importing a cannabis-based medicine.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Supreme Court E-Library — DOH Administrative Order No. 4, series of 1992", "source_urls": "https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/10/38393" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-narcotics-board-1992", "date": "1992-08-28", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "other", "title": "Papua New Guinea establishes a national narcotics board", "description": "The National Narcotics Control Board Act created the Board and a National Narcotics Bureau to coordinate drug policy, licensing, enforcement information, prevention and international obligations. It did not soften the cannabis offences.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "National Narcotics Control Board Act 1992", "source_urls": "https://vlex.com/vid/national-narcotics-control-board-923860640" }, { "id": "south-africa-drugs-act-1992", "date": "1992", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "easing", "title": "South Africa replaces its apartheid-era drug law", "description": "The Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act did away with the mandatory minimum sentences of 1971 and left punishment to the courts. Possession stayed a crime, and anyone with more than 115 g was presumed to be dealing.", "score_before": 7, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "lebanon-eradication-1992", "date": "1992", "country": "LB", "place": "Lebanon", "category": "tightening", "title": "Lebanon cracks down on cannabis farming", "description": "Hashish had been grown openly in the Bekaa valley throughout the civil war. Under pressure from the United States, the post-war government sent the army to destroy the fields.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lebanon", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lebanon" }, { "id": "germany-section-31a-1992", "date": "1992", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "easing", "title": "Germany lets prosecutors drop small cases", "description": "A new section 31a of the narcotics law allowed prosecutors to close a case without going to court when someone held a small amount for their own use. The Constitutional Court made this the expected outcome two years later.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany | Wikipedia (German) — Betäubungsmittelgesetz", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bet%C3%A4ubungsmittelgesetz_(Deutschland)" }, { "id": "botswana-drugs-act-1992", "date": "1992", "country": "BW", "place": "Botswana", "category": "other", "title": "Botswana passes the Drugs and Related Substances Act", "description": "The act prohibits cannabis in general and remains the basis of the country's drug law.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Botswana", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Botswana" }, { "id": "spain-corcuera-law-1992", "date": "1992-02-21", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "tightening", "title": "Spain starts fining possession and use in public", "description": "Private use had been left alone since 1983. A public safety law now made having or using drugs in a public place an administrative offence with a fine, which could be suspended if the person entered treatment.", "score_before": 34, "score_after": 30, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Spain | Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Spain | https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "ecuador-law-108-1991", "date": "1991", "country": "EC", "place": "Ecuador", "category": "tightening", "title": "Ecuador passes Law 108", "description": "Written under pressure from the United States, the drug law set prison terms of ten years and more and made little distinction between users, couriers and traffickers.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ecuador", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ecuador" }, { "id": "peru-penal-code-1991", "date": "1991-04", "country": "PE", "place": "Peru", "category": "easing", "title": "Peru exempts possession for personal use", "description": "Article 299 of the new Penal Code made possession for one's own immediate use not punishable. The limit was later fixed at 8 g of cannabis.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Peru", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Peru" }, { "id": "slovakia-decriminalisation-1990", "date": "1990-07-01", "country": "SK", "place": "Slovakia", "category": "easing", "title": "Czechoslovakia's decriminalisation covers Slovakia", "description": "After the fall of the communist government, an amendment to the criminal code removed possession of drugs for one's own use as an offence.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 25, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "italy-criminalisation-1990", "date": "1990", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "tightening", "title": "Italy makes personal use punishable", "description": "A new drug law ended the earlier rule that a modest quantity for personal use was not punishable. Holding more than a fixed \"average daily dose\" became a crime, and smaller amounts brought administrative sanctions.", "score_before": 21, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "DPNSEE — Italy, the legal map on decriminalisation policies (PDF) | Wikipedia (Italian) — Legge Fini-Giovanardi", "source_urls": "https://dpnsee.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Italy-The-legal-map-on-decriminalisation-policies.pdf | https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legge_Fini-Giovanardi" }, { "id": "czechoslovakia-decriminalisation-1990", "date": "1990-07-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "easing", "title": "Czechoslovakia stops punishing possession for personal use", "description": "After the fall of the communist government, an amendment to the criminal code removed possession of drugs for one's own use as an offence. It stayed that way until 1999.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 25, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "singapore-cannabis-death-penalty-1990", "date": "1990-01-15", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "death", "title": "Singapore adds capital thresholds for cannabis", "description": "The mandatory death penalty was extended to trafficking, importing or exporting more than 500 g of cannabis or 200 g of cannabis resin. This is when the present 500 g cannabis threshold entered the law, not with the first capital-drug provisions in 1975.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "MHA Home Team Journal — Timeline of MDA amendments introducing the mandatory death penalty (PDF)", "source_urls": "https://www.mha.gov.sg/docs/hta_libraries/publications/ht-journale-jan-2020-%28special-edition%29.pdf" }, { "id": "argentina-law-23737-1989", "date": "1989-10", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "tightening", "title": "Argentina criminalises personal possession again", "description": "A new drug law set one month to two years in prison for possession for personal use, which a court could replace with treatment or an educational course. The Supreme Court upheld it in 1990 and reversed itself in 2009.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina" }, { "id": "iran-death-penalty-1989", "date": "1989", "country": "IR", "place": "Iran", "category": "death", "title": "Iran sets the death penalty for hashish", "description": "An anti-narcotics law provided for execution for possessing more than five kilograms of hashish.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Iran", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Iran" }, { "id": "bangladesh-ban-1989", "date": "1989", "country": "BD", "place": "Bangladesh", "category": "ban", "title": "Bangladesh bans cannabis outright", "description": "Ganja had been grown under licence and sold in government-approved shops, a holdover from colonial excise law. Cultivation was prohibited in 1987 and sales in 1989, and the Narcotics Control Act 1990 made the ban complete.", "score_before": 32, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Bangladesh", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Bangladesh" }, { "id": "un-trafficking-convention-1988", "date": "1988-12-20", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The UN Convention against Illicit Traffic", "description": "The third drug treaty went further than the first two: it asks states to make possession, purchase and cultivation for personal use a criminal offence, subject to their constitutions. That clause is why most reforms since have taken the form of decriminalisation or court rulings, not open legalisation.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UNODC — United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 | Wikipedia — United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances", "source_urls": "https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/illicit-trafficking.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_Against_Illicit_Traffic_in_Narcotic_Drugs_and_Psychotropic_Substances" }, { "id": "paraguay-ten-grams-1988", "date": "1988-11", "country": "PY", "place": "Paraguay", "category": "easing", "title": "Paraguay exempts 10 g for personal use", "description": "Law 1340 exempts from punishment a person holding a small amount only for their own use, with 10 g of cannabis as the guideline. A judge decides whether it was personal use, so arrest remains possible.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Paraguay", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Paraguay" }, { "id": "sweden-use-criminalised-1988", "date": "1988-07-01", "country": "SE", "place": "Sweden", "category": "tightening", "title": "Sweden makes drug use itself a crime", "description": "Possession was already illegal; from July 1988 so was having used a drug. Prison was added as a penalty in 1993, which lets police compel a urine or blood test from anyone they suspect.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 10, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network — Sweden, cannabis", "source_urls": "https://nordicalcohol.org/sweden-cannabis" }, { "id": "jordan-drug-law-1988", "date": "1988", "country": "JO", "place": "Jordan", "category": "tightening", "title": "Jordan passes its drug law", "description": "The Law on Drugs and Psychotropic Substances set harsh penalties for possessing cannabis.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jordan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jordan" }, { "id": "bolivia-law-1008-1988", "date": "1988", "country": "BO", "place": "Bolivia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Bolivia passes Law 1008", "description": "The anti-drug law, written under pressure from the United States, treats cannabis the same as cocaine. Users are sent to treatment, but anyone judged to hold more than a personal amount faces ten to twenty-five years.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Bolivia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Bolivia" }, { "id": "dominican-republic-law-50-88-1988", "date": "1988-05-30", "country": "DO", "place": "Dominican Republic", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Dominican Republic passes Law 50-88", "description": "The drug law made possession of any amount of cannabis a punishable offence, graded by weight, with no allowance for personal use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Dominican Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Dominican_Republic" }, { "id": "marshall-islands-narcotics-act-1987", "date": "1987", "country": "MH", "place": "Marshall Islands", "category": "ban", "title": "The Marshall Islands pass their narcotics act", "description": "The Narcotic Drugs (Prohibition and Control) Act made all possession of cannabis illegal, with fines or prison from the first ounce. It allows possession on a medical prescription in theory, but no medical cannabis is available.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Marshall Islands", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Marshall_Islands" }, { "id": "australia-expiation-1987", "date": "1987-04-30", "country": "AU", "place": "Australia", "category": "easing", "title": "South Australia starts fining instead of prosecuting", "description": "South Australia replaced criminal charges for small amounts and a few plants with an on-the-spot fine, under a law passed in 1986. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory copied the scheme in the 1990s, and the other states moved to cautions and diversion.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Australia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Australia" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-death-penalty-1987", "date": "1987-02", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "death", "title": "Saudi Arabia authorises death sentences for drug smuggling", "description": "A Council of Senior Scholars fatwa prescribed death for people who bring drugs into the kingdom or receive them from abroad, and for repeat drug dealers. Judges soon began applying the rule to trafficking cases, including hashish.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Human Rights Watch — Saudi Arabia, executions for drug crimes", "source_urls": "https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/04/25/saudi-arabia-executions-drug-crimes" }, { "id": "us-anti-drug-abuse-act-1986", "date": "1986-10-27", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "tightening", "title": "The United States brings back mandatory minimums", "description": "At the height of the \"war on drugs\", the Anti-Drug Abuse Act restored the mandatory federal sentences repealed in 1970 and tied them to quantity. Arrests for marijuana rose for the next two decades.", "score_before": 16, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "argentina-bazterrica-1986", "date": "1986", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "easing", "title": "Argentina's Supreme Court first protects personal use", "description": "In the Bazterrica case, soon after the return of democracy, the court ruled that punishing possession for personal use violated the constitutional right to privacy.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina | Wikipedia (Spanish) — Fallo Arriola", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina | https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallo_Arriola" }, { "id": "colombia-law-30-1986", "date": "1986-01-31", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "other", "title": "Colombia defines the personal dose", "description": "The national narcotics statute defined a personal dose as 20 g of marijuana, and punished carrying it with up to 30 days of arrest and a fine. Eight years later the Constitutional Court kept the definition and struck out the punishment.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "india-ndps-act-1985", "date": "1985-11-14", "country": "IN", "place": "India", "category": "ban", "title": "India bans ganja and charas nationwide", "description": "Until 1985 cannabis was regulated by state excise laws and sold in licensed shops in much of the country. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act made flower and resin illegal everywhere, with prison even for small amounts. Leaves were left out, which is why bhang is still legal.", "score_before": 40, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcotic_Drugs_and_Psychotropic_Substances_Act,_1985" }, { "id": "poland-drug-prevention-act-1985", "date": "1985", "country": "PL", "place": "Poland", "category": "other", "title": "Poland passes its first drug prevention act", "description": "The act treated addiction as a health problem. It punished producing and supplying drugs but not possessing them, which was unusual in Europe.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Poland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Poland" }, { "id": "china-narcotic-1985", "date": "1985", "country": "CN", "place": "China", "category": "ban", "title": "China classes cannabis as a narcotic", "description": "On joining the UN drug conventions, China listed marijuana as a dangerous narcotic. Hemp for fibre and seed had been grown across the country for thousands of years and still is.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 5, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in China", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_China" }, { "id": "spain-personal-use-1983", "date": "1983", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "easing", "title": "Spain takes personal possession out of criminal law", "description": "A reform of the penal code confirmed what the Supreme Court had held since the 1970s: possessing drugs for one's own use is not a crime, only trafficking is. Fines for possession and use in public were added in 1992.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 34, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Spain | Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Spain | https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "malaysia-mandatory-death-1983", "date": "1983", "country": "MY", "place": "Malaysia", "category": "death", "title": "Malaysia makes death mandatory for trafficking", "description": "An amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act required the death sentence for trafficking, and presumed anyone holding 200 g of cannabis to be a trafficker.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malaysia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malaysia" }, { "id": "liechtenstein-narcotics-law-1983", "date": "1983-04-20", "country": "LI", "place": "Liechtenstein", "category": "ban", "title": "Liechtenstein passes its narcotics law", "description": "The Law on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances prohibited growing, producing or selling cannabis with more than 1% THC.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Liechtenstein", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Liechtenstein" }, { "id": "philippines-penalties-raised-1982", "date": "1982-03-02", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Philippines makes six years the minimum for marijuana possession", "description": "Batas Pambansa 179 raised the sentence for possessing or using any amount of marijuana from six months and one day–six years to six years and one day–12 years. It also extended the definition to every part of the plant and strengthened testing and confiscation rules.", "score_before": 2, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Batas Pambansa Blg. 179", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/bataspam/bp1982/bp_179_1982.html" }, { "id": "germany-therapy-instead-of-punishment-1982", "date": "1982-01-01", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "easing", "title": "West Germany adopts therapy instead of punishment", "description": "A revised narcotics law let courts suspend a sentence of up to two years if the offender entered treatment. Maximum sentences for trafficking were raised at the same time.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany | Wikipedia (German) — Betäubungsmittelgesetz", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bet%C3%A4ubungsmittelgesetz_(Deutschland)" }, { "id": "philippines-marijuana-seeds-1980", "date": "1980-08-08", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "ban", "title": "The Philippines brings marijuana seeds under the ban", "description": "Presidential Decree 1708 added cannabis seeds to the statutory definition of marijuana after a Court of Appeals ruling had exposed the omission and led to an acquittal for seed possession.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Presidential Decree No. 1708", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1980/pd_1708_1980.html" }, { "id": "netherlands-dealers-not-prosecuted-1980", "date": "1980", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "easing", "title": "The Netherlands announces it will not prosecute coffeeshops", "description": "The government made public the guidelines under which shops selling small amounts of cannabis would be left alone, as long as they kept to set conditions.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Opium Law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Law" }, { "id": "thailand-narcotics-act-1979", "date": "1979-11-07", "country": "TH", "place": "Thailand", "category": "tightening", "title": "Thailand passes the Narcotics Act", "description": "The Act classed cannabis as a category 5 narcotic. Possession carried up to five years in prison, and the law stayed in force for cannabis until 2022.", "score_before": 19, "score_after": 6, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Thailand" }, { "id": "pakistan-prohibition-1979", "date": "1979-02-10", "country": "PK", "place": "Pakistan", "category": "ban", "title": "Pakistan prohibits cannabis", "description": "Until 1979 charas and bhang were sold through licensed vendors. The Prohibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order, part of General Zia's Islamisation programme, banned intoxicants and closed the shops.", "score_before": 35, "score_after": 10, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Pakistan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Pakistan" }, { "id": "comoros-ban-restored-1978", "date": "1978", "country": "KM", "place": "Comoros", "category": "ban", "title": "The Comoros ban cannabis again", "description": "After President Ali Soilih was overthrown and killed, the new government reversed his decrees and prohibited cannabis.", "score_before": 72, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Comoros", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Comoros" }, { "id": "brunei-misuse-of-drugs-1978", "date": "1978-07-01", "country": "BN", "place": "Brunei", "category": "ban", "title": "Brunei's Misuse of Drugs Act takes effect", "description": "The Act made cannabis an illegal drug. It was reclassified as Class B in 2001.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brunei", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brunei" }, { "id": "ireland-misuse-of-drugs-1977", "date": "1977", "country": "IE", "place": "Ireland", "category": "easing", "title": "Ireland passes the Misuse of Drugs Act", "description": "The Act treated cannabis more leniently than other drugs: the first two convictions for possession for personal use can only be punished with a fine.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ireland" }, { "id": "cyprus-narcotics-act-1977", "date": "1977", "country": "CY", "place": "Cyprus", "category": "other", "title": "Cyprus passes its Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act", "description": "The Act, still in force, put cannabis in Class B, with penalties of up to eight years in prison for possession.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Cyprus", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Cyprus" }, { "id": "singapore-operation-ferret-1977", "date": "1977-04-01", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "tightening", "title": "Singapore launches Operation Ferret", "description": "CNB, police and other agencies began a nationwide drive against drug users and traffickers. More than 26,000 people were arrested on suspicion of consumption by February 1978, and 7,348 who tested positive were sent to drug rehabilitation centres.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "MHA — Tribute to Home Team Pioneers", "source_urls": "https://www.mha.gov.sg/media-room/newsroom/tribute-to-home-team-pioneers---speech-by-mr-teo-chee-hean-deputy-prime-minister-coordinating-minister-for-national-security-and-minister-for-home-affairs/" }, { "id": "brazil-law-6368-1976", "date": "1976-10-21", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "easing", "title": "Brazil separates users from traffickers again", "description": "Law 6.368 ended the 1968 rule that punished users like dealers. Possession for personal use carried six months to two years in prison; trafficking carried three to fifteen.", "score_before": 7, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brazil" }, { "id": "nepal-narcotics-act-1976", "date": "1976-09-22", "country": "NP", "place": "Nepal", "category": "ban", "title": "Nepal passes the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act", "description": "Three years after closing the licensed shops, Nepal made growing, producing, selling and using cannabis criminal offences. Use at Shiva festivals has been tolerated all the same.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Nepal", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Nepal" }, { "id": "indonesia-narcotics-law-1976", "date": "1976-07-26", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Independent Indonesia passes its first narcotics law", "description": "Law 9 replaced the Dutch colonial ordinance while keeping cannabis restricted to medical and scientific purposes. It raised punishment to two years for personal use, six years for growing, possessing or small-scale supply, and as much as life imprisonment for trafficking.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Transnational Institute — Cannabis in Indonesia, patterns in consumption, production and policies", "source_urls": "https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_44_13012016_map_web.pdf" }, { "id": "south-korea-cannabis-control-act-1976", "date": "1976", "country": "KR", "place": "South Korea", "category": "ban", "title": "South Korea passes the Cannabis Control Act", "description": "Hemp had been grown for cloth for centuries and smoking it was not an offence. The Act banned possession and use, with prison terms, in the middle of a government campaign against youth culture.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Korea", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Korea" }, { "id": "netherlands-toleration-1976", "date": "1976", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "easing", "title": "The Netherlands separates cannabis from hard drugs", "description": "A revised Opium Act put cannabis on its own list and made possession of up to 30 g a minor offence that prosecutors would not pursue. The same policy let coffeeshops sell small amounts openly.", "score_before": 12, "score_after": 39, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Government of the Netherlands — Toleration policy regarding soft drugs and coffee shops | Wikipedia — Opium Law", "source_urls": "https://www.government.nl/topics/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Law" }, { "id": "italy-modest-quantity-1975", "date": "1975-12-22", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "easing", "title": "Italy stops punishing a modest quantity", "description": "Law 685 distinguished users from dealers for the first time. Holding a \"modest quantity\" for personal use was not punishable, though the law never said how much that was.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "DPNSEE — Italy, the legal map on decriminalisation policies (PDF)", "source_urls": "https://dpnsee.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Italy-The-legal-map-on-decriminalisation-policies.pdf" }, { "id": "singapore-death-penalty-1975", "date": "1975-12-12", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "death", "title": "Singapore introduces mandatory death sentences for drug trafficking", "description": "An amendment made death mandatory for trafficking, importing or exporting more than 30 g of morphine or 15 g of diamorphine. Cannabis was not yet covered by a capital threshold; that change came in 1990.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "MHA Home Team Journal — Timeline of MDA amendments introducing the mandatory death penalty (PDF)", "source_urls": "https://www.mha.gov.sg/docs/hta_libraries/publications/ht-journale-jan-2020-%28special-edition%29.pdf" }, { "id": "switzerland-use-punishable-1975", "date": "1975-08-01", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "tightening", "title": "Switzerland makes consumption an offence", "description": "A revision of the Narcotics Act made using drugs punishable for the first time, though as a minor offence, and let courts waive the penalty in light cases.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 16, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "belgium-revision-1975", "date": "1975-07-09", "country": "BE", "place": "Belgium", "category": "tightening", "title": "Belgium tightens its drug law", "description": "A major revision of the 1921 law raised penalties, added aggravating circumstances and made using drugs in a group an offence.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belgium", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belgium" }, { "id": "nigeria-death-penalty-removed-1975", "date": "1975", "country": "NG", "place": "Nigeria", "category": "death", "title": "Nigeria removes the death penalty for growing hemp", "description": "An amendment to the Indian Hemp Decree dropped capital punishment for cultivation and reduced the prison terms. A 1984 decree raised them again.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Nigeria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Nigeria" }, { "id": "new-zealand-misuse-of-drugs-1975", "date": "1975", "country": "NZ", "place": "New Zealand", "category": "easing", "title": "New Zealand passes the Misuse of Drugs Act", "description": "The Act put cannabis in Class C, the lowest. The maximum for possession became three months in prison or a $500 fine, with a presumption against imprisonment.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in New Zealand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_New_Zealand" }, { "id": "comoros-legalisation-1975", "date": "1975", "country": "KM", "place": "Comoros", "category": "legalisation", "title": "The Comoros legalise cannabis", "description": "The revolutionary president Ali Soilih, courting the support of young people, lifted the ban on cannabis. It stayed legal for three years.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 72, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Comoros | Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Comoros | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "uruguay-personal-use-1974", "date": "1974-10", "country": "UY", "place": "Uruguay", "category": "easing", "title": "Uruguay stops punishing possession for personal use", "description": "Decree-law 14.294 exempted from punishment anyone holding a minimal quantity only for their own use. Growing and selling stayed crimes, so there was no legal way to obtain it until 2013.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 32, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uruguay", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uruguay" }, { "id": "argentina-recriminalisation-1974", "date": "1974-10", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "tightening", "title": "Argentina makes personal possession a crime again", "description": "Law 20.771 punished possession of drugs with one to six years in prison \"even if intended for personal use\", reversing the 1968 exemption. The Supreme Court went back and forth on it for the next 35 years.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina" }, { "id": "spain-supreme-court-1974", "date": "1974", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "easing", "title": "Spain's Supreme Court: possession for personal use is not a crime", "description": "The court held that possessing drugs for one's own use fell outside the criminal offence of trafficking. Parliament wrote this into the penal code in 1983.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "myanmar-narcotics-law-1974", "date": "1974", "country": "MM", "place": "Myanmar", "category": "ban", "title": "Burma bans cannabis again", "description": "The Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Law prohibited cannabis along with opium, with long prison sentences.", "score_before": 49, "score_after": 4, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Myanmar", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Myanmar" }, { "id": "us-oregon-decriminalisation-1973", "date": "1973-10-05", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "easing", "title": "Oregon becomes the first US state to decriminalise", "description": "Possession of up to an ounce became a violation with a $100 fine. Ten more states followed by 1978, covering about a third of Americans, before the trend stopped for two decades.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 16, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "nepal-shops-closed-1973", "date": "1973-07-16", "country": "NP", "place": "Nepal", "category": "ban", "title": "Nepal closes its legal cannabis shops", "description": "Nepal cancelled the licences of every cannabis shop, dealer and farmer, ending the legal trade that had made Kathmandu a stop on the hippie trail. The Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act followed in 1976.", "score_before": 49, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Nepal", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Nepal" }, { "id": "singapore-misuse-of-drugs-1973", "date": "1973-07-07", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "tightening", "title": "Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act takes effect", "description": "The Act replaced the 1951 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance and the 1969 Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act. It consolidated drug offences and gave CNB broad arrest, search and urine-testing powers, alongside compulsory treatment and heavier penalties.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Singapore Statutes Online — Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 legislative history", "source_urls": "https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/MDA1973?ProvIds=xv-" }, { "id": "uk-misuse-of-drugs-act-1973", "date": "1973-07-01", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "easing", "title": "Britain's Misuse of Drugs Act takes effect", "description": "The Act sorted drugs into three classes and put cannabis in Class B. The maximum for possession was halved from ten years to five, the one recommendation of the Wootton Report that became law.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom | Wikipedia — Misuse of Drugs Act 1971", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_Drugs_Act_1971" }, { "id": "afghanistan-ban-1973", "date": "1973", "country": "AF", "place": "Afghanistan", "category": "ban", "title": "Afghanistan outlaws cannabis production", "description": "Under pressure from the United States, which paid for the eradication campaign, King Zahir Shah banned growing cannabis and opium. Afghanistan had been a main stop on the hippie trail.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 1, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-henderson-ruling-1973", "date": "1973-04-05", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "easing", "title": "Supreme Court confirms alternatives to mandatory imprisonment", "description": "Henderson v Blackwell held that the three-month minimum written into the 1970 possession law did not stop a district court from imposing a fine or conditional discharge in an appropriate marijuana case. The court remitted Henderson's sentence for rehearing.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Henderson v Blackwell [1973] PNGLR 223", "source_urls": "https://vlex.com/vid/henderson-v-blackwell-1973-922777644" }, { "id": "luxembourg-drug-law-1973", "date": "1973-02-19", "country": "LU", "place": "Luxembourg", "category": "ban", "title": "Luxembourg passes its drug law", "description": "The law on the sale of medicinal substances and the fight against drug addiction made using, holding and growing cannabis criminal offences, with prison for personal use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Luxembourg", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Luxembourg" }, { "id": "netherlands-baan-commission-1972", "date": "1972", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "debate", "title": "The Baan Commission proposes separating the drug markets", "description": "A government working group argued that drugs should be ranked by risk and that keeping cannabis users away from dealers of harder drugs mattered more than punishing them. Its report became the basis of the 1976 law.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Netherlands", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands" }, { "id": "jamaica-mandatory-prison-ended-1972", "date": "1972", "country": "JM", "place": "Jamaica", "category": "easing", "title": "Jamaica drops mandatory prison for ganja", "description": "After three decades, an amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act removed the compulsory prison sentence for possession and let courts impose a fine or probation.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jamaica", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jamaica" }, { "id": "finland-use-criminalised-1972", "date": "1972", "country": "FI", "place": "Finland", "category": "tightening", "title": "Finland makes personal use a crime", "description": "After a vote of 92 to 80 the year before, the new Narcotics Act made using drugs an offence in itself, which few countries had done.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Finland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Finland" }, { "id": "canada-le-dain-1972", "date": "1972", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "debate", "title": "Canada's Le Dain Commission recommends ending the possession offence", "description": "After three years of hearings, the royal commission concluded that possession of cannabis should no longer be a crime. The government introduced a bill to ease penalties, but it died in Parliament and the law stayed as it was for another 46 years.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "philippines-dangerous-drugs-act-1972", "date": "1972-03-30", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Philippines pass the Dangerous Drugs Act", "description": "Republic Act 6425 created the Dangerous Drugs Board and a comprehensive offence system. Marijuana possession or use carried six months and one day–six years, giving it a lower range than other prohibited drugs, while cultivation carried 14 years and one day to life.", "score_before": 4, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Republic Act No. 6425 | Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Philippines", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1972/ra_6425_1972.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Philippines" }, { "id": "germany-narcotics-law-1971", "date": "1971-12-22", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "tightening", "title": "West Germany replaces the Opium Law with the Narcotics Law", "description": "Reacting to the drug wave of the late 1960s, the new law replaced the 1929 Opium Law and raised the maximum sentence from three years in prison to ten. Pharmacy sales of cannabis had already ended.", "score_before": 24, "score_after": 15, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany | Wikipedia (German) — Betäubungsmittelgesetz", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bet%C3%A4ubungsmittelgesetz_(Deutschland)" }, { "id": "singapore-cnb-established-1971", "date": "1971-11", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "tightening", "title": "Singapore establishes the Central Narcotics Bureau", "description": "The government created CNB as a dedicated agency and centralised drug enforcement in one department. It remains Singapore's primary drug-enforcement body.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "CNB — Our history", "source_urls": "https://www.cnb.gov.sg/about-us/who-we-are/our-history/" }, { "id": "south-africa-mandatory-minimums-1971", "date": "1971", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "tightening", "title": "South Africa imposes mandatory prison for dagga", "description": "The Abuse of Dependence-producing Substances Act set a minimum of two years in prison for a first possession offence and five for dealing. The government called it the toughest drug law in the Western world.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 7, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "namibia-south-african-act-1971", "date": "1971", "country": "NA", "place": "Namibia", "category": "tightening", "title": "South Africa's 1971 drug act covers South West Africa", "description": "The Abuse of Dependence-producing Substances Act applied in the territory South Africa then ruled. Namibia kept it as its drug law at independence in 1990.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Namibia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Namibia" }, { "id": "un-psychotropics-convention-1971", "date": "1971-02-21", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances", "description": "The second drug treaty brought synthetic and isolated substances under international control. THC, identified only seven years earlier, was placed in the strictest schedule, separately from the plant itself.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UNODC — Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 | Wikipedia — Convention on Psychotropic Substances", "source_urls": "https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/psychotropics.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Psychotropic_Substances" }, { "id": "france-use-criminalised-1970", "date": "1970-12-31", "country": "FR", "place": "France", "category": "tightening", "title": "France makes private use a crime", "description": "Until 1970 French law punished only use in company. The new drug law made any use an offence carrying up to a year in prison, with treatment offered as the alternative. It is still the basis of French law.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in France", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_France" }, { "id": "us-controlled-substances-act-1970", "date": "1970-10-27", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "easing", "title": "The United States passes the Controlled Substances Act", "description": "The Act replaced the tax law struck down the year before. It put marijuana in Schedule I, the category for drugs with no accepted medical use, where it largely remains. It also repealed the mandatory minimum sentences of the 1950s and made simple possession a misdemeanour.", "score_before": 7, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States | Wikipedia — Controlled Substances Act", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_Act" }, { "id": "portugal-use-criminalised-1970", "date": "1970", "country": "PT", "place": "Portugal", "category": "tightening", "title": "Portugal makes drug use a crime", "description": "Decree-Law 420/70 was the first Portuguese law to punish using drugs, with up to two years in prison. The approach lasted until the 2001 decriminalisation.", "score_before": 17, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Portugal | Wikipedia — Drug policy of Portugal", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Portugal | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-possession-act-1970", "date": "1970", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "ban", "title": "Papua New Guinea closes the locally grown marijuana loophole", "description": "A prosecution had exposed that people could possess or smoke locally grown marijuana despite the territory's drug controls. The House of Assembly adopted the Dangerous Drugs (Possession) Act, bringing possession, conveyance and cannabis plants within an offence carrying three months to two years in prison.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "United Nations — Papua New Guinea 1969–1970 report, chapter on drugs", "source_urls": "https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3900219/files/T_1733-EN.pdf" }, { "id": "iceland-ban-1969", "date": "1969-10-14", "country": "IS", "place": "Iceland", "category": "ban", "title": "Iceland bans cannabis", "description": "A regulation prohibited cannabis, and the ban was written into the drug law in 1974.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 16, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Iceland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Iceland" }, { "id": "canada-summary-conviction-1969", "date": "1969-08", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "easing", "title": "Canada lets possession be dealt with by a fine", "description": "Convictions had risen from a few dozen a year to thousands, and nearly half ended in prison. An amendment to the Narcotic Control Act let prosecutors proceed by summary conviction, and a fine quickly became the usual sentence. Earlier that year the government had appointed the Le Dain Commission, which went on to recommend ending the offence altogether.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "denmark-warnings-1969", "date": "1969-07", "country": "DK", "place": "Denmark", "category": "easing", "title": "Denmark tells police to warn, not prosecute", "description": "A circular from the chief public prosecutor said that possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use should be met with a warning. It stayed the standard response until 2004.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Denmark", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Denmark" }, { "id": "us-leary-1969", "date": "1969-05-19", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "other", "title": "The US Supreme Court strikes down the Marihuana Tax Act", "description": "In Leary v. United States the court ruled that the 1937 tax law, the basis of federal prohibition, forced people to incriminate themselves. State laws still banned cannabis, and Congress replaced the tax act with the Controlled Substances Act the following year.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Leary v. United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leary_v._United_States" }, { "id": "uk-wootton-report-1969", "date": "1969-01", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "debate", "title": "Britain's Wootton Report says cannabis is less harmful than assumed", "description": "A government advisory committee concluded that the long-term moderate use of cannabis has no harmful effects, and that nobody should go to prison for possessing a small amount. The Home Secretary rejected it, but the 1971 drug law did put cannabis in a lower class than heroin.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Wootton Report", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootton_Report" }, { "id": "brazil-users-as-traffickers-1968", "date": "1968-12-26", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "tightening", "title": "Brazil's military government punishes users like traffickers", "description": "A decree-law issued days after the regime suspended civil liberties gave possession for personal use the same sentence as dealing. Users kept facing prison until 2006.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 7, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brazil" }, { "id": "vietnam-ban-1968", "date": "1968", "country": "VN", "place": "Vietnam", "category": "ban", "title": "South Vietnam outlaws cannabis", "description": "With American soldiers using it widely, the South Vietnamese government condemned and banned cannabis, urged on by the United States.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 6, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "sweden-narcotics-penal-act-1968", "date": "1968", "country": "SE", "place": "Sweden", "category": "tightening", "title": "Sweden passes the Narcotic Drugs Penal Act", "description": "The Act, still the core of Swedish drug law, replaced earlier decrees and raised the penalties for possession and supply. It followed the collapse of an experiment in prescribing drugs to users.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sweden", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sweden" }, { "id": "argentina-personal-use-1968", "date": "1968", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "easing", "title": "Argentina exempts possession for personal use", "description": "A reform of the penal code punished drug possession only above the amount needed for personal use. The exemption lasted six years.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina" }, { "id": "uk-stop-and-search-1967", "date": "1967", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "tightening", "title": "Britain gives police the power to stop and search for drugs", "description": "The Dangerous Drugs Act 1967 let police stop and search anyone they reasonably suspected of carrying drugs. Cannabis convictions rose quickly, and the power remains central to how the law is enforced.", "score_before": 15, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom" }, { "id": "spain-narcotics-law-1967", "date": "1967", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "other", "title": "Spain adapts its law to the Single Convention", "description": "Law 17/1967 on narcotics, still in force, placed cannabis under state control and limited it to medical and scientific use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Spain", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Spain" }, { "id": "samoa-narcotics-act-1967", "date": "1967", "country": "WS", "place": "Samoa", "category": "ban", "title": "Samoa passes the Narcotics Act", "description": "The Act made cannabis a Class B narcotic and prohibited possessing, growing, selling and producing it.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Samoa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Samoa" }, { "id": "nigeria-indian-hemp-decree-1966", "date": "1966", "country": "NG", "place": "Nigeria", "category": "tightening", "title": "Nigeria's military government issues the Indian Hemp Decree", "description": "Months after taking power, the military government replaced colonial-era fines with some of the harshest penalties in the world: at least ten years in prison for possession, and death or 21 years for growing. The death penalty was later removed, but long mandatory sentences remain.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Nigeria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Nigeria" }, { "id": "finland-ban-1966", "date": "1966", "country": "FI", "place": "Finland", "category": "ban", "title": "Finland prohibits cannabis", "description": "Cannabis was banned in 1966, and parliament voted narrowly in 1971 to make personal use a crime as well.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Finland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Finland" }, { "id": "un-single-convention-in-force-1964", "date": "1964-12-13", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The Single Convention enters into force", "description": "The treaty took effect once forty countries had ratified it. Through the 1960s and 1970s most governments rewrote their drug laws to match, which is why so many national prohibitions date from these years.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UNODC — Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 | Wikipedia — Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs", "source_urls": "https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/single-convention.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Convention_on_Narcotic_Drugs" }, { "id": "uk-cultivation-offence-1964", "date": "1964", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "tightening", "title": "Britain makes growing cannabis an offence", "description": "To ratify the Single Convention, the Dangerous Drugs Act 1964 made it an offence to cultivate the cannabis plant and to let premises be used for smoking it. Possession had been illegal since 1928.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 15, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom" }, { "id": "slovakia-criminal-code-1962", "date": "1962-01-01", "country": "SK", "place": "Slovakia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Czechoslovakia's criminal code punishes possession in Slovakia", "description": "The communist-era criminal code made it a crime to produce, import or keep narcotics without permission, with up to two years in prison.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "czechoslovakia-criminal-code-1962", "date": "1962-01-01", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Czechoslovakia's new criminal code punishes possession", "description": "The communist-era criminal code made it a crime to produce, import or keep narcotics without permission, with up to two years in prison. Cannabis was barely known in Czechoslovakia at the time; home-grown use spread in the 1970s and 1980s.", "score_before": 20, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "canada-narcotic-control-act-1961", "date": "1961", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "easing", "title": "Canada passes the Narcotic Control Act", "description": "Passed the same year as the Single Convention, the Act set a minimum of seven years for importing and a maximum of seven for possession, but dropped the mandatory six months in prison for possession, so judges could again give a fine or probation. Cannabis had been banned since 1923 but was barely used; arrests only took off later in the decade.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "un-single-convention-1961", "date": "1961-03-30", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs", "description": "The treaty that still frames cannabis law worldwide. It merged earlier agreements, placed cannabis in its strictest categories alongside heroin, and required countries to limit it to medical and scientific use. Traditional use was to be phased out within 25 years.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "UNODC — Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 | Wikipedia — Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs", "source_urls": "https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/single-convention.html | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Convention_on_Narcotic_Drugs" }, { "id": "egypt-law-182-1960", "date": "1960", "country": "EG", "place": "Egypt", "category": "tightening", "title": "Egypt passes its narcotics law", "description": "Law 182 of 1960, still the basis of Egyptian drug law, set long prison terms for possessing hashish and allowed the death penalty for trafficking. Egypt had pushed for international control of cannabis since the 1920s.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Egypt", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Egypt" }, { "id": "philippines-marijuana-possession-1958", "date": "1958-06-13", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "tightening", "title": "The Philippines explicitly criminalises marijuana possession and use", "description": "Republic Act 2060 added Indian hemp, including marijuana, hashish and resin, to Article 190 of the Revised Penal Code. Unauthorised possession, preparation, administration or use now carried imprisonment as a prohibited-drug offence.", "score_before": 7, "score_after": 4, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Republic Act No. 2060", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1958/ra_2060_1958.html" }, { "id": "south-korea-narcotics-act-1957", "date": "1957", "country": "KR", "place": "South Korea", "category": "ban", "title": "South Korea's Narcotics Act names Indian marijuana", "description": "The Act listed imported \"Indian marijuana\" as a forbidden narcotic. It left alone the hemp that Koreans had always grown for cloth, which was only banned in 1976.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Korea", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Korea" }, { "id": "us-narcotic-control-act-1956", "date": "1956-07-18", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "tightening", "title": "The United States raises penalties again", "description": "The Narcotic Control Act made a first conviction for possessing marijuana punishable by two to ten years in federal prison, with no parole or probation for most offences. It was the high point of federal severity; mandatory minimums were repealed in 1970.", "score_before": 9, "score_after": 7, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "morocco-kif-ban-1956", "date": "1956", "country": "MA", "place": "Morocco", "category": "ban", "title": "Independent Morocco bans kif", "description": "Under the French protectorate kif had been sold legally through a state tobacco and kif monopoly. France ended the sales in 1954, and after independence a royal decree extended the ban to the whole country. Growing continued in the Rif, tolerated in practice.", "score_before": 57, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Morocco", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Morocco" }, { "id": "papua-new-guinea-unified-drug-law-1955", "date": "1955-08-25", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "other", "title": "A single Dangerous Drugs Ordinance takes effect", "description": "The 1952 Ordinance came into force across the combined Territory of Papua and New Guinea, replacing the earlier separate territorial enactments. It controlled manufacture, export and medicinal import, but did not yet clearly criminalise possession of locally grown marijuana.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 — current consolidated text and legislative history", "source_urls": "https://vlex.com/vid/dangerous-drugs-act-chapter-923861310" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-penalties-1955", "date": "1955", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Saudi Arabia sets penalties for drug offences", "description": "A Council of Ministers resolution established penalties for smugglers, their assistants, dealers and users, building a national enforcement regime on top of the 1934 prohibition.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Saudipedia — Law of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances in the Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://saudipedia.com/en/law-of-combating-narcotics-and-psychotropic-substances-in-the-kingdom" }, { "id": "denmark-euphoriants-act-1955", "date": "1955", "country": "DK", "place": "Denmark", "category": "ban", "title": "Denmark passes the Euphoriant Substances Act", "description": "The Act is still the basis of Danish drug law. It prohibited possessing cannabis without authorisation.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Denmark", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Denmark" }, { "id": "italy-law-1041-1954", "date": "1954-10-22", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "tightening", "title": "Italy treats users and dealers alike", "description": "Law 1041 punished anyone holding drugs without authorisation with years in prison, making no distinction between a user and a trafficker. It stayed in force until 1975.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Italy", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Italy" }, { "id": "who-no-medical-value-1954", "date": "1954", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The WHO declares cannabis medically obsolete", "description": "The World Health Organization's expert committee stated that cannabis preparations were practically obsolete and that there was no justification for their medical use. The view shaped the 1961 treaty, and the WHO only reversed it in 2019.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Convention_on_Narcotic_Drugs" }, { "id": "canada-trafficking-offence-1954", "date": "1954", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "tightening", "title": "Canada separates trafficking from possession", "description": "An amendment to the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act created the offence of possession for the purpose of trafficking, with up to 14 years in prison. Simple possession kept its mandatory minimum of six months.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "netherlands-possession-ban-1953", "date": "1953", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "ban", "title": "The Netherlands bans possession of cannabis", "description": "Import and export had been restricted since 1928. An amendment to the Opium Act now made possessing, producing and selling cannabis offences too, just over twenty years before the country became known for tolerating it.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Netherlands", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands" }, { "id": "philippines-narcotic-drugs-law-1953", "date": "1953-06-20", "country": "PH", "place": "Philippines", "category": "ban", "title": "The Philippines adopts its first national marijuana controls", "description": "Republic Act 953 required prior authority, annual registration, tax stamps and written orders for marijuana transactions. Unauthorised possession could bring up to five years in prison, while section 15 declared marijuana cultivation prohibited as national policy.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 7, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "LawPhil — Republic Act No. 953, the Narcotic Drugs Law", "source_urls": "https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1953/ra_953_1953.html" }, { "id": "tunisia-takrouri-ban-1953", "date": "1953-04-23", "country": "TN", "place": "Tunisia", "category": "ban", "title": "Tunisia ends legal cannabis sales", "description": "Under French rule a state monopoly had sold cannabis, known as takrouri, alongside tobacco. A decree of April 1953 prohibited growing and using it, and independent Tunisia kept the ban.", "score_before": 55, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Tunisia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Tunisia" }, { "id": "malaya-dangerous-drugs-1952", "date": "1952", "country": "MY", "place": "Malaysia", "category": "tightening", "title": "Malaya passes the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance", "description": "The colonial ordinance is still the core of Malaysian drug law. Later amendments made it one of the harshest anywhere, with a presumption of trafficking for 200 g of cannabis.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malaysia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malaysia" }, { "id": "us-boggs-act-1951", "date": "1951-11-02", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "tightening", "title": "The United States introduces mandatory minimum sentences", "description": "The Boggs Act put marijuana in the same category as heroin for sentencing and set a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, and up to ten, for a first possession offence. Many states passed their own \"little Boggs acts\" in the years that followed.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Boggs Act | Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States | Wikipedia — Boggs Act of 1951", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boggs_Act | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boggs_Act_of_1951" }, { "id": "switzerland-narcotics-act-1951", "date": "1951-10-03", "country": "CH", "place": "Switzerland", "category": "ban", "title": "Switzerland bans cannabis", "description": "A new federal Narcotics Act prohibited producing, growing, possessing and using cannabis.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Switzerland" }, { "id": "singapore-dangerous-drugs-ordinance-1951", "date": "1951", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "other", "title": "Singapore codifies cannabis control in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance", "description": "Ordinance No. 7 of 1951 restricted importing, exporting and possessing \"Indian hemp\" to people with official authorisation. Unauthorised possession could bring a $10,000 fine, five years in prison or both.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Library of Congress — Cannabis laws in Singapore (1970 survey, PDF)", "source_urls": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llglrdppub/2019668513/2019668513.pdf" }, { "id": "poland-narcotic-1951", "date": "1951", "country": "PL", "place": "Poland", "category": "ban", "title": "Poland classifies cannabis as a narcotic", "description": "Cannabis had been named in Polish law since 1930 as a harmful substance. It was now classed as a narcotic, which restricted its production and trade. Possession itself was not an offence until 1997.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 27, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Poland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Poland" }, { "id": "japan-cannabis-control-act-1948", "date": "1948-07-10", "country": "JP", "place": "Japan", "category": "ban", "title": "Japan passes the Cannabis Control Act", "description": "Hemp had been an everyday crop in Japan for centuries. Under the American occupation, a new law banned possession and made growing subject to a licence, which was kept mainly for farmers supplying fibre for ropes and shrines.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Japan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Japan" }, { "id": "un-commission-on-narcotic-drugs-1946", "date": "1946-02-16", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The UN creates the Commission on Narcotic Drugs", "description": "The new United Nations took over drug control from the League of Nations and set up the commission that still decides which substances the treaties cover. It began work on a single treaty to replace the pre-war agreements, finished in 1961.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Commission on Narcotic Drugs", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commission_on_Narcotic_Drugs" }, { "id": "us-la-guardia-report-1944", "date": "1944", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "debate", "title": "New York's La Guardia report contradicts the official line", "description": "A five-year study ordered by the mayor of New York found that marijuana did not lead to addiction, crime or harder drugs. The federal narcotics bureau attacked the report, and it had no effect on the law.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — La Guardia Committee", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Guardia_Committee" }, { "id": "syria-cultivation-ban-1943", "date": "1943", "country": "SY", "place": "Syria", "category": "ban", "title": "Syria bans growing cannabis", "description": "President Shukri al-Quwatli's government prohibited cannabis cultivation. Enforcement was weak for decades, especially in the Druze regions.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Syria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Syria" }, { "id": "us-pharmacopeia-1942", "date": "1942", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "medical", "title": "Cannabis is dropped from the US Pharmacopeia", "description": "Cannabis extracts had been listed as a medicine since 1850 and were sold in pharmacies. Five years after the Marihuana Tax Act made prescribing them impractical, the listing was removed.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "jamaica-mandatory-prison-1941", "date": "1941", "country": "JM", "place": "Jamaica", "category": "tightening", "title": "Jamaica makes prison mandatory for ganja", "description": "An amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Law required a prison sentence for possessing ganja, with no option of a fine. Penalties were raised again in the 1960s, and the mandatory term was only removed in 1972.", "score_before": 13, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jamaica", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jamaica" }, { "id": "mexico-regulation-suspended-1940", "date": "1940-07", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "tightening", "title": "Mexico suspends its health-based drug rule", "description": "Five months after it began, the regulation that let doctors prescribe drugs to users was suspended under pressure from the United States, which had stopped exports of medical narcotics to Mexico. Possession went back to being a crime.", "score_before": 24, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "lithuania-soviet-law-1940", "date": "1940", "country": "LT", "place": "Lithuania", "category": "ban", "title": "Soviet drug law is imposed on Lithuania", "description": "Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union, and Soviet criminal law, including its ban on growing cannabis, applied from then on.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "latvia-soviet-law-1940", "date": "1940", "country": "LV", "place": "Latvia", "category": "ban", "title": "Soviet drug law is imposed on Latvia", "description": "Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union, and Soviet criminal law, including its ban on growing cannabis, applied from then on.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "estonia-soviet-law-1940", "date": "1940", "country": "EE", "place": "Estonia", "category": "ban", "title": "Soviet drug law is imposed on Estonia", "description": "Estonia was annexed by the Soviet Union, and Soviet criminal law, including its ban on growing cannabis, applied from then on.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "mexico-brief-legalisation-1940", "date": "1940-02-17", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "easing", "title": "Mexico briefly treats drug use as a health matter", "description": "Under President Cárdenas a new federal regulation let doctors prescribe drugs to users and set up state dispensaries, taking users out of criminal law. The United States responded by cutting off medical drug exports, and Mexico suspended the rule within months.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 24, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "myanmar-licensed-1939", "date": "1939", "country": "MM", "place": "Myanmar", "category": "legalisation", "title": "Burma legalises and taxes cannabis", "description": "Two years after Burma was separated from British India, the government licensed cannabis again and sold it through government-run shops in the main towns.", "score_before": 11, "score_after": 49, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Myanmar", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Myanmar" }, { "id": "malta-dangerous-drugs-1939", "date": "1939", "country": "MT", "place": "Malta", "category": "ban", "title": "Malta passes the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance", "description": "The colonial ordinance banned possessing and growing cannabis. Growing later carried a mandatory prison sentence, even for a single plant.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Malta", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Malta" }, { "id": "colombia-restrictions-1939", "date": "1939", "country": "CO", "place": "Colombia", "category": "ban", "title": "Colombia restricts cannabis", "description": "The government prohibited growing and selling marijuana, and tightened the rules again in 1946.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Colombia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Colombia" }, { "id": "slovakia-opium-act-1938", "date": "1938", "country": "SK", "place": "Slovakia", "category": "ban", "title": "Czechoslovakia's Opium Act covers Slovakia", "description": "The first Czechoslovak drug law carried out the Geneva conventions and brought Indian hemp under control. Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "czechoslovakia-opium-act-1938", "date": "1938", "country": "CZ", "place": "Czechia", "category": "ban", "title": "Czechoslovakia passes its Opium Act", "description": "The first Czechoslovak drug law carried out the Geneva conventions and brought Indian hemp under control. Making, trading or holding it needed a permit, and pharmacies could supply it as medicine.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Czech Republic", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Czech_Republic" }, { "id": "us-marihuana-tax-act-1937", "date": "1937-10-01", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "tightening", "title": "The United States passes the Marihuana Tax Act", "description": "Most states had already restricted cannabis. The federal act did not ban it outright but taxed and registered every transaction so heavily that legal supply, including prescriptions, became impractical. The first arrests came within days.", "score_before": 22, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 | Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marihuana_Tax_Act_of_1937 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "ireland-ban-1937", "date": "1937-04-01", "country": "IE", "place": "Ireland", "category": "ban", "title": "Ireland bans cannabis", "description": "The Dangerous Drugs Act 1934, passed to carry out the Geneva convention, came into force and prohibited cannabis and cannabis resin.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Ireland" }, { "id": "palestine-dangerous-drugs-1936", "date": "1936", "country": "PS", "place": "Palestine", "category": "ban", "title": "British Palestine passes the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance", "description": "The Mandate ordinance banned possessing and trading hashish across Palestine.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Israel", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Israel" }, { "id": "israel-dangerous-drugs-1936", "date": "1936", "country": "IL", "place": "Israel", "category": "ban", "title": "British Palestine passes the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance", "description": "The Mandate ordinance banned possessing and trading hashish. Israel kept it after independence and re-enacted it in 1973.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Israel", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Israel" }, { "id": "league-illicit-traffic-convention-1936", "date": "1936-06-26", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The League of Nations convention on illicit traffic", "description": "The first treaty to ask countries to make drug trafficking a serious crime under their own law. The United States wanted it to cover cultivation and use as well and refused to sign when it did not.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Convention for the Suppression of the Illicit Traffic in Dangerous Drugs", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_for_the_Suppression_of_the_Illicit_Traffic_in_Dangerous_Drugs" }, { "id": "nigeria-dangerous-drugs-1935", "date": "1935", "country": "NG", "place": "Nigeria", "category": "ban", "title": "Nigeria passes the Dangerous Drugs Act", "description": "The British colonial government restricted cannabis for the first time, with fines and short prison terms.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Nigeria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Nigeria" }, { "id": "thailand-cannabis-act-1935", "date": "1935-05-05", "country": "TH", "place": "Thailand", "category": "ban", "title": "Siam passes the Cannabis Act", "description": "Cannabis had been a kitchen herb and folk medicine in Siam for centuries. The Cannabis Act of 1935 made possessing, growing, selling and using it criminal offences.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 19, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Thailand" }, { "id": "uzbekistan-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "UZ", "place": "Uzbekistan", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Uzbekistan", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Uzbekistan was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 6, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "ukraine-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "UA", "place": "Ukraine", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Ukraine", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Ukraine was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "turkmenistan-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "TM", "place": "Turkmenistan", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Turkmenistan", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Turkmenistan was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "tajikistan-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "TJ", "place": "Tajikistan", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Tajikistan", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Tajikistan was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "saudi-arabia-first-anti-drug-law-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "SA", "place": "Saudi Arabia", "category": "ban", "title": "Saudi Arabia enacts its first anti-drug law", "description": "King Abdulaziz issued the Prevention of Narcotic Drug Trafficking and Use Law, the kingdom's first national prohibition statute. The 2005 law eventually repealed and replaced it.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Saudipedia — Law of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances in the Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://saudipedia.com/en/law-of-combating-narcotics-and-psychotropic-substances-in-the-kingdom" }, { "id": "russia-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "RU", "place": "Russia", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet Union bans growing cannabis", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "moldova-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "MD", "place": "Moldova", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Moldova", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Moldova was a Soviet republic from 1940.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "kyrgyzstan-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "KG", "place": "Kyrgyzstan", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Kyrgyzstan", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Kyrgyzstan was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 18, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "kazakhstan-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "KZ", "place": "Kazakhstan", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Kazakhstan", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Kazakhstan was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "georgia-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "GE", "place": "Georgia", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Georgia", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Georgia was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "belarus-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "BY", "place": "Belarus", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Belarus", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Belarus was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "azerbaijan-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "AZ", "place": "Azerbaijan", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Azerbaijan", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Azerbaijan was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "armenia-soviet-ban-1934", "date": "1934", "country": "AM", "place": "Armenia", "category": "ban", "title": "The Soviet ban on growing cannabis covers Armenia", "description": "The Soviet Union prohibited the unauthorised cultivation of Indian hemp and the opium poppy. Armenia was a Soviet republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Russia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Russia" }, { "id": "turkey-narcotics-law-1933", "date": "1933", "country": "TR", "place": "Türkiye", "category": "ban", "title": "Turkey passes its narcotics control law", "description": "Law 2313 put cannabis under state control: growing it needs a permit and is allowed only in designated provinces, and possession for use is a crime.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Turkey", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Turkey" }, { "id": "guatemala-decree-1331-1932", "date": "1932", "country": "GT", "place": "Guatemala", "category": "ban", "title": "Guatemala restricts Indian hemp and marihuana", "description": "Decree 1331 added Indian hemp and marihuana to the plants it classed as lethal and restricted.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Guatemala", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Guatemala" }, { "id": "brazil-federal-ban-1932", "date": "1932-01", "country": "BR", "place": "Brazil", "category": "ban", "title": "Brazil bans cannabis nationwide", "description": "A federal decree added cannabis to the list of prohibited substances. Local bans went back as far as an 1830 Rio de Janeiro ordinance aimed at enslaved Africans, who had brought the plant with them.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Brazil" }, { "id": "sweden-narcotics-decree-1930", "date": "1930", "country": "SE", "place": "Sweden", "category": "ban", "title": "Sweden brings cannabis under its narcotics rules", "description": "A royal decree carrying out the Geneva convention added Indian hemp to the controlled narcotics.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sweden", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sweden" }, { "id": "slovenia-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "SI", "place": "Slovenia", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers Slovenia", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. Slovenia was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 21, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia" }, { "id": "serbia-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "RS", "place": "Serbia", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers Serbia", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. Serbia was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia" }, { "id": "north-macedonia-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "MK", "place": "North Macedonia", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers North Macedonia", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. North Macedonia was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia" }, { "id": "montenegro-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "ME", "place": "Montenegro", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers Montenegro", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. Montenegro was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia" }, { "id": "kosovo-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "XK", "place": "Kosovo", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers Kosovo", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. Kosovo was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Kosovo", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Kosovo" }, { "id": "croatia-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "HR", "place": "Croatia", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers Croatia", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. Croatia was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia" }, { "id": "bosnia-and-herzegovina-yugoslav-code-1930", "date": "1930-01-01", "country": "BA", "place": "Bosnia and Herzegovina", "category": "ban", "title": "Yugoslavia's criminal code covers Bosnia and Herzegovina", "description": "The criminal code of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia took effect and set prison sentences for drug offences. Yugoslavia had ratified the Geneva convention the year before. Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of the kingdom.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Serbia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Serbia" }, { "id": "germany-opium-law-1929", "date": "1929-12-10", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "ban", "title": "Germany adds cannabis to its Opium Law", "description": "To carry out the 1925 Geneva convention, a new Opium Law brought Indian hemp under control for the first time. Cannabis could still be sold by pharmacies; other trade and possession became offences.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 24, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany | Wikipedia (German) — Betäubungsmittelgesetz", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bet%C3%A4ubungsmittelgesetz_(Deutschland)" }, { "id": "spain-first-restrictions-1929", "date": "1929", "country": "ES", "place": "Spain", "category": "ban", "title": "Spain first restricts cannabis", "description": "The first restrictions on cannabis were introduced under the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera. Spain adopted the full international prohibition when it joined the Single Convention in the 1960s.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia (Spanish) — Cannabis en España", "source_urls": "https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_en_Espa%C3%B1a" }, { "id": "bahamas-dangerous-drugs-1929", "date": "1929-02-27", "country": "BS", "place": "Bahamas", "category": "ban", "title": "The Bahamas pass the Dangerous Drugs Act", "description": "The colonial Act prohibited Indian hemp along with other dangerous drugs.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Bahamas", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Bahamas" }, { "id": "uk-ban-1928", "date": "1928-09-28", "country": "GB", "place": "United Kingdom", "category": "ban", "title": "Britain bans cannabis", "description": "The Dangerous Drugs Act 1925, passed to ratify the Geneva convention, took effect. Possessing cannabis without a prescription became an offence. Growing the plant was not covered until 1964.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 20, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the United Kingdom", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_Kingdom" }, { "id": "romania-narcotics-law-1928", "date": "1928", "country": "RO", "place": "Romania", "category": "ban", "title": "Romania passes a narcotics law", "description": "The law covered hashish and its preparations along with other narcotics.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Romania", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Romania" }, { "id": "netherlands-import-ban-1928", "date": "1928-05-12", "country": "NL", "place": "Netherlands", "category": "ban", "title": "The Netherlands restricts the cannabis trade", "description": "To carry out the Geneva convention, a new Opium Act prohibited importing and exporting Indian hemp. Possession and use inside the country were not covered until 1953.", "score_before": 100, "score_after": 98, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in the Netherlands | Wikipedia — Opium Law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Law" }, { "id": "new-zealand-dangerous-drugs-1927", "date": "1927", "country": "NZ", "place": "New Zealand", "category": "ban", "title": "New Zealand bans cannabis", "description": "The Dangerous Drugs Act restricted cannabis to medical use on prescription, following the Geneva convention. Almost nobody used it at the time; the first notable prosecutions came in the 1960s.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in New Zealand", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_New_Zealand" }, { "id": "new-guinea-cannabis-extract-controls-1927", "date": "1927", "country": "PG", "place": "Papua New Guinea", "category": "ban", "title": "The Territory of New Guinea restricts cannabis extracts", "description": "The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance treated extracts and tinctures of Indian hemp as dangerous drugs, prohibited their unlicensed import and limited licences to medicinal purposes. The restriction covered the former Territory of New Guinea, not yet the whole of present-day Papua New Guinea, and did not create a general offence for locally grown marijuana.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Australian Commonwealth Gazette — Dangerous Drugs Ordinance 1927 (New Guinea)", "source_urls": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/files/gazettes/historic/1927/1927GN85.pdf" }, { "id": "indonesia-colonial-ban-1927", "date": "1927", "country": "ID", "place": "Indonesia", "category": "ban", "title": "The Dutch East Indies ban cannabis", "description": "A colonial narcotics ordinance prohibited growing cannabis and tightly restricted its possession, use and distribution across the archipelago. Medical and scientific activity required prior authorisation; other offences brought fines or up to six months in prison.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Transnational Institute — Cannabis in Indonesia, patterns in consumption, production and policies | Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_44_13012016_map_web.pdf | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "portugal-first-drug-law-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "PT", "place": "Portugal", "category": "ban", "title": "Portugal passes its first drug law", "description": "A decree carried out the international opium conventions and restricted the import and sale of narcotics, cannabis included.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Portugal | Wikipedia — Drug policy of Portugal", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Portugal | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal" }, { "id": "lebanon-hashish-ban-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "LB", "place": "Lebanon", "category": "ban", "title": "Lebanon prohibits hashish", "description": "The French mandate authorities banned hashish. Growing in the Bekaa valley continued anyway and still does.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Lebanon", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Lebanon" }, { "id": "gabon-french-equatorial-africa-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "GA", "place": "Gabon", "category": "ban", "title": "France bans cannabis in French Equatorial Africa", "description": "The French colonial government prohibited cannabis across French Equatorial Africa, the federation that included what is now Gabon.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Conversation — La politique du cannabis en France, une longue histoire", "source_urls": "https://theconversation.com/la-politique-du-cannabis-en-france-une-longue-histoire-145849" }, { "id": "congo-french-equatorial-africa-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "CG", "place": "Congo", "category": "ban", "title": "France bans cannabis in French Equatorial Africa", "description": "The French colonial government prohibited cannabis across French Equatorial Africa, the federation that included what is now Congo.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Conversation — La politique du cannabis en France, une longue histoire", "source_urls": "https://theconversation.com/la-politique-du-cannabis-en-france-une-longue-histoire-145849" }, { "id": "chad-french-equatorial-africa-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "TD", "place": "Chad", "category": "ban", "title": "France bans cannabis in French Equatorial Africa", "description": "The French colonial government prohibited cannabis across French Equatorial Africa, the federation that included what is now Chad.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Conversation — La politique du cannabis en France, une longue histoire", "source_urls": "https://theconversation.com/la-politique-du-cannabis-en-france-une-longue-histoire-145849" }, { "id": "central-african-republic-french-equatorial-africa-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "CF", "place": "Central African Republic", "category": "ban", "title": "France bans cannabis in French Equatorial Africa", "description": "The French colonial government prohibited cannabis across French Equatorial Africa, the federation that included what is now the Central African Republic.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "The Conversation — La politique du cannabis en France, une longue histoire", "source_urls": "https://theconversation.com/la-politique-du-cannabis-en-france-une-longue-histoire-145849" }, { "id": "australia-ban-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "AU", "place": "Australia", "category": "ban", "title": "Australia begins banning cannabis", "description": "The federal government prohibited imports after signing the Geneva convention. The states then banned possession and use one by one, from Victoria in 1928 to Tasmania in 1959.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Australia", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Australia" }, { "id": "argentina-possession-crime-1926", "date": "1926", "country": "AR", "place": "Argentina", "category": "ban", "title": "Argentina makes drug possession a crime", "description": "Two years after restricting the sale of narcotics to pharmacies, Congress made possessing them without a legitimate reason a crime.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Argentina" }, { "id": "ye-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "YE", "place": "Yemen", "category": "ban", "title": "Yemen first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Yemen. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "vu-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "VU", "place": "Vanuatu", "category": "ban", "title": "Vanuatu first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Vanuatu. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ve-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "VE", "place": "Venezuela", "category": "ban", "title": "Venezuela first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Venezuela. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "vc-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "VC", "place": "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines", "category": "ban", "title": "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "uy-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "UY", "place": "Uruguay", "category": "ban", "title": "Uruguay first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Uruguay. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "tw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "TW", "place": "Taiwan", "category": "ban", "title": "Taiwan first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Taiwan. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "tv-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "TV", "place": "Tuvalu", "category": "ban", "title": "Tuvalu first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Tuvalu. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "trinidad-ganja-ordinance-1925", "date": "1925", "country": "TT", "place": "Trinidad and Tobago", "category": "ban", "title": "Trinidad and Tobago bans ganja", "description": "The colonial legislature prohibited cannabis, which Indian indentured workers had brought to the islands.", "score_before": 49, "score_after": 6, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Trinidad and Tobago", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago" }, { "id": "to-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "TO", "place": "Tonga", "category": "ban", "title": "Tonga first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Tonga. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "tl-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "TL", "place": "Timor-Leste", "category": "ban", "title": "Timor-Leste first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Timor-Leste. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "sv-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "SV", "place": "El Salvador", "category": "ban", "title": "El Salvador first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for El Salvador. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "sm-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "SM", "place": "San Marino", "category": "ban", "title": "San Marino first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for San Marino. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "sb-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "SB", "place": "Solomon Islands", "category": "ban", "title": "Solomon Islands first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Solomon Islands. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "qa-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "QA", "place": "Qatar", "category": "ban", "title": "Qatar first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Qatar. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "py-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "PY", "place": "Paraguay", "category": "ban", "title": "Paraguay first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Paraguay. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "pw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "PW", "place": "Palau", "category": "ban", "title": "Palau first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Palau. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "pe-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "PE", "place": "Peru", "category": "ban", "title": "Peru first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Peru. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "om-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "OM", "place": "Oman", "category": "ban", "title": "Oman first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Oman. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "nr-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "NR", "place": "Nauru", "category": "ban", "title": "Nauru first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Nauru. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "no-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "NO", "place": "Norway", "category": "ban", "title": "Norway first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Norway. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ni-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "NI", "place": "Nicaragua", "category": "ban", "title": "Nicaragua first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Nicaragua. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 16, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "mv-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "MV", "place": "Maldives", "category": "ban", "title": "Maldives first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Maldives. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "mn-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "MN", "place": "Mongolia", "category": "ban", "title": "Mongolia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Mongolia. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 10, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "mc-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "MC", "place": "Monaco", "category": "ban", "title": "Monaco first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Monaco. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "lc-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "LC", "place": "Saint Lucia", "category": "ban", "title": "Saint Lucia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Saint Lucia. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "kw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "KW", "place": "Kuwait", "category": "ban", "title": "Kuwait first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Kuwait. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 0, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "kp-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "KP", "place": "North Korea", "category": "ban", "title": "North Korea first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for North Korea. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "kn-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "KN", "place": "Saint Kitts and Nevis", "category": "ban", "title": "Saint Kitts and Nevis first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Saint Kitts and Nevis. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ki-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "KI", "place": "Kiribati", "category": "ban", "title": "Kiribati first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Kiribati. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "jo-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "JO", "place": "Jordan", "category": "ban", "title": "Jordan first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Jordan. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 1, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ir-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "IR", "place": "Iran", "category": "ban", "title": "Iran first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Iran. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 4, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "iq-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "IQ", "place": "Iraq", "category": "ban", "title": "Iraq first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Iraq. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "hu-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "HU", "place": "Hungary", "category": "ban", "title": "Hungary first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Hungary. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ht-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "HT", "place": "Haiti", "category": "ban", "title": "Haiti first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Haiti. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "hn-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "HN", "place": "Honduras", "category": "ban", "title": "Honduras first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Honduras. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "gd-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "GD", "place": "Grenada", "category": "ban", "title": "Grenada first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Grenada. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "fm-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "FM", "place": "Micronesia", "category": "ban", "title": "Micronesia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Micronesia. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ec-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "EC", "place": "Ecuador", "category": "ban", "title": "Ecuador first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Ecuador. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "do-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "DO", "place": "Dominican Republic", "category": "ban", "title": "Dominican Republic first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Dominican Republic. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "dm-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "DM", "place": "Dominica", "category": "ban", "title": "Dominica first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Dominica. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "cy-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "CY", "place": "Cyprus", "category": "ban", "title": "Cyprus first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Cyprus. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "cu-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "CU", "place": "Cuba", "category": "ban", "title": "Cuba first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Cuba. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "cr-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "CR", "place": "Costa Rica", "category": "ban", "title": "Costa Rica first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Costa Rica. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "cl-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "CL", "place": "Chile", "category": "ban", "title": "Chile first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Chile. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "bz-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "BZ", "place": "Belize", "category": "ban", "title": "Belize first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Belize. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "bt-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "BT", "place": "Bhutan", "category": "ban", "title": "Bhutan first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Bhutan. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 8, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "bo-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "BO", "place": "Bolivia", "category": "ban", "title": "Bolivia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Bolivia. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "bh-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "BH", "place": "Bahrain", "category": "ban", "title": "Bahrain first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Bahrain. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "bg-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "BG", "place": "Bulgaria", "category": "ban", "title": "Bulgaria first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Bulgaria. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 12, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "bb-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "BB", "place": "Barbados", "category": "ban", "title": "Barbados first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Barbados. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "at-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "AT", "place": "Austria", "category": "ban", "title": "Austria first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Austria. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "al-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "AL", "place": "Albania", "category": "ban", "title": "Albania first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Albania. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 14, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ag-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "AG", "place": "Antigua and Barbuda", "category": "ban", "title": "Antigua and Barbuda first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Antigua and Barbuda. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ae-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "AE", "place": "United Arab Emirates", "category": "ban", "title": "United Arab Emirates first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for United Arab Emirates. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "ad-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1925", "country": "AD", "place": "Andorra", "category": "ban", "title": "Andorra first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Andorra. Its first restrictions on cannabis are assumed to date from between the 1925 Geneva convention, which put Indian hemp under international control, and the 1961 Single Convention, which required a ban on non-medical use.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "geneva-opium-convention-1925", "date": "1925-02-19", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "Cannabis enters international drug control", "description": "At Egypt's request, the International Opium Convention signed in Geneva added \"Indian hemp\" to the substances under control. It restricted export and import to medical and scientific use, the first time cannabis was covered by an international treaty.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "sudan-ban-1924", "date": "1924", "country": "SD", "place": "Sudan", "category": "ban", "title": "Sudan bans cannabis", "description": "The Anglo-Egyptian administration prohibited growing and using cannabis across Sudan.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sudan", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sudan" }, { "id": "south-sudan-ban-1924", "date": "1924", "country": "SS", "place": "South Sudan", "category": "ban", "title": "Sudan, then including the south, bans cannabis", "description": "The Anglo-Egyptian administration prohibited growing and using cannabis across Sudan.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "panama-ban-1923", "date": "1923", "country": "PA", "place": "Panama", "category": "ban", "title": "Panama bans cannabis", "description": "A law prohibited growing and using cannabis.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "italy-first-drug-law-1923", "date": "1923", "country": "IT", "place": "Italy", "category": "ban", "title": "Italy passes its first drug law", "description": "The Mussolini-Oviglio law punished the sale and unauthorised possession of narcotics, including hashish, with prison.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" }, { "id": "canada-ban-1923", "date": "1923-04-23", "country": "CA", "place": "Canada", "category": "ban", "title": "Canada bans cannabis", "description": "Cannabis was added to the schedule of the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act without debate in Parliament. Nobody has established why: there was almost no use in Canada, and the first seizure was not until 1932.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Canada", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Canada" }, { "id": "south-africa-national-ban-1922", "date": "1922", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "ban", "title": "South Africa bans dagga nationwide", "description": "Provinces had restricted dagga since the nineteenth century, at first only for Indian labourers. A national law now prohibited growing, selling and possessing it. South Africa then asked the League of Nations to put cannabis under international control.", "score_before": 58, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "belgium-drug-law-1921", "date": "1921-02-24", "country": "BE", "place": "Belgium", "category": "ban", "title": "Belgium passes its drug law", "description": "The law of 24 February 1921, still the basis of Belgian drug law, made possessing and trading controlled substances a crime. Cannabis was among them.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Belgium", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Belgium" }, { "id": "sierra-leone-ban-1920", "date": "1920", "country": "SL", "place": "Sierra Leone", "category": "ban", "title": "Sierra Leone bans cannabis", "description": "The British colony prohibited cannabis, which had long been grown and smoked there.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sierra Leone", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sierra_Leone" }, { "id": "mexico-ban-1920", "date": "1920-03-15", "country": "MX", "place": "Mexico", "category": "ban", "title": "Mexico bans marijuana", "description": "A federal health decree prohibited growing and selling marijuana, seventeen years before the United States acted. It had been restricted in Mexico City since the 1880s.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mexico", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mexico" }, { "id": "algeria-french-decrees-1916", "date": "1916-09-14", "country": "DZ", "place": "Algeria", "category": "ban", "title": "France bans hashish in Algeria", "description": "Decrees of September 1916 and February 1917 applied the new French drug law to Algeria and prohibited hashish.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Algeria", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Algeria" }, { "id": "france-first-drug-law-1916", "date": "1916-07-12", "country": "FR", "place": "France", "category": "ban", "title": "France passes its first drug law", "description": "Hashish was listed with opium and cocaine. The law punished importing, selling, possessing and using these drugs in company, but left private use alone, which stayed the position until 1970.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 17, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in France", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_France" }, { "id": "trinidad-ganja-licensing-1915", "date": "1915", "country": "TT", "place": "Trinidad and Tobago", "category": "ban", "title": "Trinidad puts ganja under licence", "description": "The Ganja Ordinance created a licensed system for selling cannabis, which Indian indentured workers had brought to the islands. Ten years later it was banned outright.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 49, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Trinidad and Tobago", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago" }, { "id": "kenya-ban-1914", "date": "1914-01-01", "country": "KE", "place": "Kenya", "category": "ban", "title": "The East Africa Protectorate bans cannabis", "description": "The Opium Ordinance of the British protectorate that became Kenya took effect and prohibited cannabis, which had been widely used there.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Kenya", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Kenya" }, { "id": "us-state-bans-1913", "date": "1913", "country": "US", "place": "United States", "category": "ban", "title": "American states begin banning cannabis", "description": "California prohibited cannabis in 1913, after Massachusetts in 1911. By 1933 most states had restricted it, many by adopting the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act. This entry stands for the whole process.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 22, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Legal history of cannabis in the United States", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States" }, { "id": "jamaica-ganja-law-1913", "date": "1913", "country": "JM", "place": "Jamaica", "category": "ban", "title": "Jamaica passes the Ganja Law", "description": "Ganja had come to Jamaica with Indian indentured workers in the 1840s. Pressed by the churches, the colonial legislature banned growing and importing it, and later possession and smoking.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Jamaica", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Jamaica" }, { "id": "guyana-indian-hemp-ordinance-1913", "date": "1913", "country": "GY", "place": "Guyana", "category": "ban", "title": "British Guiana passes the Indian Hemp Ordinance", "description": "The ordinance moved from licensing to prohibition, banning the growing and possession of cannabis.", "score_before": 49, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Guyana", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Guyana" }, { "id": "angola-portuguese-ban-1913", "date": "1913", "country": "AO", "place": "Angola", "category": "ban", "title": "Portugal bans cannabis in Angola", "description": "A colonial law prohibited cannabis in Angola. It was aimed at colonial troops and also meant to push farmers towards growing tobacco.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "hague-opium-convention-1912", "date": "1912-01-23", "country": "", "place": "International", "category": "international", "title": "The Hague Opium Convention", "description": "The first international drug treaty covered opium, morphine and cocaine. Italy and the United States asked for cannabis to be included; the conference only agreed to study the question. It was added thirteen years later.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — International Opium Convention", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Opium_Convention" }, { "id": "fiji-import-ban-1907", "date": "1907", "country": "FJ", "place": "Fiji", "category": "ban", "title": "Fiji bans the import of Indian hemp", "description": "Ordinance No. 21 prohibited importing Indian hemp or anything made from it. It was aimed at the Indian labourers brought to work the sugar plantations.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 13, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Fiji", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Fiji" }, { "id": "sri-lanka-indian-hemp-ordinance-1905", "date": "1905", "country": "LK", "place": "Sri Lanka", "category": "ban", "title": "Ceylon passes the Indian Hemp Ordinance", "description": "After banning imports in 1897, the colonial government moved from licensing to prohibition. The 1907 version set a fine of 100 rupees and up to six months in prison. Later law kept an exception that still stands: licensed Ayurvedic practitioners may use and dispense cannabis.", "score_before": 49, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sri Lanka", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sri_Lanka" }, { "id": "uganda-ban-1902", "date": "1902", "country": "UG", "place": "Uganda", "category": "ban", "title": "The Uganda Protectorate bans cannabis", "description": "The British colonial administration prohibited producing cannabis in any form, naming bhang, ganja and charas.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Uganda", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Uganda" }, { "id": "zw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "ZW", "place": "Zimbabwe", "category": "ban", "title": "Zimbabwe first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Zimbabwe. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "zm-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "ZM", "place": "Zambia", "category": "ban", "title": "Zambia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Zambia. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "tz-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "TZ", "place": "Tanzania", "category": "ban", "title": "Tanzania first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Tanzania. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "tg-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "TG", "place": "Togo", "category": "ban", "title": "Togo first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Togo. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "sz-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "SZ", "place": "Eswatini", "category": "ban", "title": "Eswatini first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Eswatini. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "st-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "ST", "place": "São Tomé and Príncipe", "category": "ban", "title": "São Tomé and Príncipe first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for São Tomé and Príncipe. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "sr-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "SR", "place": "Suriname", "category": "ban", "title": "Suriname first restricts cannabis", "description": "The date of Suriname's ban is not recorded here. It was in place by 1921, when the Surinamese Immigrants' Association petitioned the Dutch colonial government to lift it, so it is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1921.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Suriname", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Suriname" }, { "id": "so-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "SO", "place": "Somalia", "category": "ban", "title": "Somalia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Somalia. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "sn-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "SN", "place": "Senegal", "category": "ban", "title": "Senegal first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Senegal. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "rw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "RW", "place": "Rwanda", "category": "ban", "title": "Rwanda first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Rwanda. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 2, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "ne-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "NE", "place": "Niger", "category": "ban", "title": "Niger first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Niger. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "na-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "NA", "place": "Namibia", "category": "ban", "title": "Namibia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Namibia. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "mz-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "MZ", "place": "Mozambique", "category": "ban", "title": "Mozambique first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Mozambique. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "mw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "MW", "place": "Malawi", "category": "ban", "title": "Malawi first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Malawi. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "mr-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "MR", "place": "Mauritania", "category": "ban", "title": "Mauritania first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Mauritania. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "ml-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "ML", "place": "Mali", "category": "ban", "title": "Mali first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Mali. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "ly-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "LY", "place": "Libya", "category": "ban", "title": "Libya first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Libya. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 3, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "ls-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "LS", "place": "Lesotho", "category": "ban", "title": "Lesotho first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Lesotho. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "lr-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "LR", "place": "Liberia", "category": "ban", "title": "Liberia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Liberia. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "km-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "KM", "place": "Comoros", "category": "ban", "title": "Comoros first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Comoros. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "gw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "GW", "place": "Guinea-Bissau", "category": "ban", "title": "Guinea-Bissau first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Guinea-Bissau. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "gq-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "GQ", "place": "Equatorial Guinea", "category": "ban", "title": "Equatorial Guinea first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Equatorial Guinea. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "gn-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "GN", "place": "Guinea", "category": "ban", "title": "Guinea first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Guinea. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "gm-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "GM", "place": "Gambia", "category": "ban", "title": "Gambia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Gambia. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "gh-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "GH", "place": "Ghana", "category": "ban", "title": "Ghana first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Ghana. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "et-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "ET", "place": "Ethiopia", "category": "ban", "title": "Ethiopia first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Ethiopia. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "er-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "ER", "place": "Eritrea", "category": "ban", "title": "Eritrea first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Eritrea. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "dj-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "DJ", "place": "Djibouti", "category": "ban", "title": "Djibouti first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Djibouti. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "cv-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "CV", "place": "Cabo Verde", "category": "ban", "title": "Cabo Verde first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Cabo Verde. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "cm-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "CM", "place": "Cameroon", "category": "ban", "title": "Cameroon first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Cameroon. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "ci-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "CI", "place": "Côte d'Ivoire", "category": "ban", "title": "Côte d'Ivoire first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Côte d'Ivoire. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "cd-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "CD", "place": "DR Congo", "category": "ban", "title": "DR Congo first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for DR Congo. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "bw-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "BW", "place": "Botswana", "category": "ban", "title": "Botswana first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Botswana. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "bj-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "BJ", "place": "Benin", "category": "ban", "title": "Benin first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Benin. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "bi-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "BI", "place": "Burundi", "category": "ban", "title": "Burundi first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Burundi. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "bf-first-restriction-estimate", "date": "1900", "country": "BF", "place": "Burkina Faso", "category": "ban", "title": "Burkina Faso first restricts cannabis", "description": "No first law is recorded here for Burkina Faso. Historians of cannabis in Africa find that most colonial governments had banned it by 1920, so its first restriction is assumed to fall between 1900 and 1920.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "estimated", "date_estimated": true, "sources": "Chris S. Duvall — The African Roots of Marijuana (Duke University Press, 2019)", "source_urls": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv11hpqx7" }, { "id": "india-hemp-drugs-commission-1894", "date": "1894", "country": "IN", "place": "India", "category": "debate", "title": "The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission reports", "description": "After hearing nearly 1,200 witnesses across British India, the commission concluded that moderate use of hemp drugs does practically no harm and that banning them would be unjustified. It recommended taxing and licensing them, which remained the system in India until 1985.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Indian Hemp Drugs Commission", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Hemp_Drugs_Commission" }, { "id": "myanmar-ban-1891", "date": "1891", "country": "MM", "place": "Myanmar", "category": "ban", "title": "British Burma bans cannabis", "description": "The colonial government prohibited cannabis in Burma, while it kept licensing and taxing it across the border in India.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Myanmar", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Myanmar" }, { "id": "greece-hashish-ban-1890", "date": "1890", "country": "GR", "place": "Greece", "category": "ban", "title": "Greece bans hashish", "description": "A royal decree prohibited growing, importing and using hashish, one of the first national bans in Europe.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Greece", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Greece" }, { "id": "seychelles-ban-1882", "date": "1882", "country": "SC", "place": "Seychelles", "category": "ban", "title": "Seychelles bans cannabis", "description": "The prohibition was copied word for word from the law of Mauritius, of which Seychelles was then a dependency.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Seychelles", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Seychelles" }, { "id": "egypt-import-ban-1879", "date": "1879", "country": "EG", "place": "Egypt", "category": "ban", "title": "Egypt bans the import of hashish", "description": "After earlier attempts to stamp out hashish, the Khedivate banned its import, and five years later its cultivation. Egypt went on to ask for cannabis to be included in the 1925 Geneva convention.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Egypt", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Egypt" }, { "id": "germany-pharmacy-only-1872", "date": "1872", "country": "DE", "place": "Germany", "category": "other", "title": "Germany restricts Indian hemp to pharmacies", "description": "An imperial ordinance on the trade in medicines limited the sale of Indian hemp to pharmacies. It regulated a medicine; it did not prohibit possession or use.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Germany", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Germany" }, { "id": "south-africa-natal-1870", "date": "1870", "country": "ZA", "place": "South Africa", "category": "ban", "title": "Natal bans dagga for Indian workers", "description": "The colony of Natal prohibited Indian indentured labourers from smoking, using or possessing dagga, one of the earliest cannabis laws anywhere. Other provinces followed with restrictions of their own before the national ban of 1922.", "score_before": "", "score_after": "", "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in South Africa", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_South_Africa" }, { "id": "singapore-ban-1870", "date": "1870", "country": "SG", "place": "Singapore", "category": "ban", "title": "The Straits Settlements ban cannabis", "description": "The British colony that included Singapore prohibited cannabis amid concern about use among Indian labourers, making it one of the first cannabis bans in Asia.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Singapore", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Singapore" }, { "id": "malaysia-straits-ban-1870", "date": "1870", "country": "MY", "place": "Malaysia", "category": "ban", "title": "The Straits Settlements ban covers Penang and Malacca", "description": "The British colony of the Straits Settlements, which included Penang and Malacca as well as Singapore, prohibited cannabis. The Malay states followed under British rule.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 11, "confidence": "unchecked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Singapore", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Singapore" }, { "id": "sri-lanka-licensing-1867", "date": "1867", "country": "LK", "place": "Sri Lanka", "category": "ban", "title": "Ceylon restricts cannabis sales to licensed dealers", "description": "The colonial government allowed cannabis to be sold only by licensed dealers, the same excise approach Britain used in India.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 49, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Sri Lanka", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Sri_Lanka" }, { "id": "guyana-licensing-1861", "date": "1861", "country": "GY", "place": "Guyana", "category": "ban", "title": "British Guiana regulates the sale of bhang", "description": "An ordinance to regulate the sale of opium and bhang restricted cannabis to licensed sellers.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 49, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Cannabis in Guyana", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Guyana" }, { "id": "mauritius-ban-1840", "date": "1840", "country": "MU", "place": "Mauritius", "category": "ban", "title": "Mauritius bans cannabis", "description": "The British colony prohibited cannabis, which had arrived with Indian indentured labourers. It was among the first colonial bans.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law | Wikipedia — Cannabis in Mauritius", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Mauritius" }, { "id": "madagascar-merina-ban-1787", "date": "1787", "country": "MG", "place": "Madagascar", "category": "ban", "title": "The Merina kingdom bans cannabis", "description": "King Andrianampoinimerina prohibited cannabis across the Merina kingdom of Madagascar, with death as the penalty. It is one of the earliest national bans on record.", "score_before": 98, "score_after": 9, "confidence": "checked", "date_estimated": false, "sources": "Wikipedia — Timeline of cannabis law", "source_urls": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_cannabis_law" } ]