Regions continent
North America
23 countries and 9 territories in North America. The average score is 23.6 of 100, 10.4 above the world average; Canada is the freest and El Salvador the harshest.
- average score · world 13.3
- 23.6
- countries, and 9 territories
- 23
- people
- 608 million
- legal for adults · 5 with a medical route
- 6
North America on the map
Each country coloured by its score: red means prison risk, green means free. Select a country for its profile.
Fully legal since October 2018: 30 g in public, four plants per household in most provinces, gifting between adults, and licensed retail and delivery across the country.
The 2020 reform exempts up to 28 g from ordinary possession penalties and permits three plants at a permanent home. School-premises possession can trigger a rebuttable trafficking presumption.
Since February 2026 adults 21 and over may possess up to 56 g. Four plants at a household are outside the growing offence, and the agriculture ministry says a grower registers with the Cannabis Secretariat before planting. The ministry said the rules for signing up would follow. There is no legal shop yet. Smoking on school premises, or in public/open areas within 100 yards during school hours, can carry up to twenty years in prison.
Adults have a 30 g possession exemption and may grow four plants per dwelling-house, subject to school-location restrictions. There is no legal market.
Adults may ordinarily hold up to 30 g and grow four plants, but possession around children at specified premises or on school buses can bring five years in prison. There is no legal market.
Adults may hold up to 15 g and a household may grow four plants; Rastafari sacramental use is recognised. Dispensaries serve patients only.
Since 2015 up to 2 oz is a petty offence with no record, five plants per household are allowed, and Rastafari sacramental use is legal. Licensed herb houses serve patients and visitors.
Adult-use cannabis is still federally illegal, yet about half the states run licensed markets and 40 allow medical use; in April 2026 state-licensed medical cannabis was moved to Schedule III. Scores are a national estimate — reality ranges from retail shops to prison depending on the state.
A 2019 ruling protects adults' private personal use and growing. Later laws set ticket and licence rules; 56 g is the statutory ticket threshold, not the court's privacy test.
The Supreme Court struck down the ban on personal use in 2021, but Congress never passed a regulatory law. Adults can seek a permit to grow and consume; there is no legal market.
Since 2017 adults may possess up to 10 g and use it on private premises. A regulated market law was shelved.
Personal possession is not penalised, and courts require evidence of trafficking before punishing home cultivation. A 2022 law legalised medical cannabis and hemp.
Up to 2 oz is decriminalised and a licensed medical industry, including traditional growers, operates since 2018.
Up to 14 g is a fixable fine; a medical industry is licensed and Rastafari sacramental use is permitted.
Under 5 g is a minor offence punished with day-fines and community service; 5 to 20 g brings up to three years in prison and more than that up to eight.
Cannabis remains criminal. The 2024 Act created a Cannabis Authority, but its possession, medical-use and licensing provisions have not been brought into force.
Since 25 June 2020 the criminal code punishes cannabis trafficking, cultivation and possession for those purposes with four to seven years, or one to three when the case is of lesser gravity. The 1989 compulsory-rehabilitation rule for personal use was repealed. That repeal does not declare personal possession lawful.
Medical cannabis has a legal framework dating from 2021; licensed CBD sales began in 2026. Recreational cannabis remains illegal.
Acquiring or possessing cannabis for personal consumption carries four months to two years in prison plus a fine. A reasonable amount for immediate use and the circumstances determine personal possession; the law gives no fixed gram allowance. Unauthorised growing and supply carry longer prison terms.
Holding or growing a small amount for personal use carries up to six months and a fine under the 2001 drug law; trafficking carries up to thirty years.
Personal possession of up to 20 g of marijuana can mean six months to two years in prison. An intent to distribute or sell can mean three to ten years at any amount, including below 20 g. More than one pound of marijuana attracts the trafficker tier of five to twenty years.
Simple cannabis possession can bring six months to two years, a fine or both. Cultivation carries four to ten years; aggravated drug offences can carry life imprisonment or death.
Article 34 sets prison for under 2 g, but since 2012 possession for one's own use is outside criminal punishment. Weight alone does not decide.
Cannabis possession remains an offence, but the revised 2025 prosecution instruction provides for surrender and dismissal in the 0–30 g band, with exceptions. Larger personal amounts can attract fine requests. Low-THC CBD has a separate medicinal import route.
Simple possession of seven grams of cannabis or less has been decriminalised since 20 December 2017, while police may seize it and unauthorised use, growing and supply remain offences. Qualifying old convictions can be cleared on application. Named cannabinoid medicines have been permitted on prescription since 2014; the UK blocked the broader cannabis licensing bill in 2022.
Cannabis possession, supply, cultivation and use are offences. The House passed medical-licensing and record-clearing bills in 2020, but an official July 2026 review still reported both awaiting assent. In 2023 the premier proposed a route for doctors under existing legislation.
Cannabis possession, use, growing and supply remain criminal offences. A doctor may prescribe extracts and tinctures through the medical route introduced in 2016. Voters backed decriminalising small amounts in April 2025; after a public consultation, the premier expected reform recommendations and supporting legislation in November or December 2026.
Cannabis possession, use, growing and supply remain prohibited. Prosecutors’ guidance calls for confiscation and dismissal in the 0–25 g band, subject to exceptions, and a fine request in the 25–50 g band. The law provides medical exemptions for authorised professionals and lawfully obtained treatment supplies. A proposed medical-cannabis industry was still awaiting parliamentary approval in April 2023.
Recreational cannabis possession and supply remain prohibited. Greenland’s own rules provide medical and prescription permissions and an exception for products with no more than 0.2% THC brought in through authorised importers for local distribution. The government continues to emphasise customs controls, prevention and treatment.
Unauthorised cannabis possession remains a felony, with probation and other alternatives available in qualifying cases. Medical dispensaries began serving patients in December 2016. The health department counted 110,736 active patients in August 2026.
Cannabis possession remains an offence. Prosecutors can dismiss cases in the 0–25 g band after confiscation, subject to exceptions. The ordinance includes medical exemptions, while proposals for a regulated cannabis industry remain under debate.
The Cannabis Use Act sets adult possession limits at two ounces. Qualified resident patients may grow six flowering and six immature plants. By September 2026 the first commercial grow had approval to operate and the testing lab was operational; an October update still reported no dispensary sales.
How the 23 countries divide
For adults
- Legal 6Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda
- Partly legal / tolerated 2United States, Mexico
- Decriminalized 6Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Costa Rica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados
- Illegal 8Nicaragua, Bahamas, Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, Haiti…
- Death penalty 1Cuba
For patients
- Legal 5Canada, Jamaica, United States, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados
- Limited 6Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama
- None verified 12Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Belize, Nicaragua, Bahamas…
North America over time
The average score and the share of countries, or of people, in each band, rebuilt from the recorded history.
Cannabis freedom in North America over time
North America average score
23.6Restrictive−76.4 since 186023.6Restrictive+12.7 since 201129.7Tolerant−70.3 since 186029.7Tolerant+15.0 since 2011
Countries under prohibition or worse
Countries under prohibition or worse
People under prohibition or worse
People under prohibition or worse
35%8 of 23+35 points since 186035%8 of 23−43 points since 201112%of North America's people+12 points since 186012%of North America's people−1 points since 2011
Every country, ranked
The index score from 0 to 100 and its six parts from 0 to 10. Territories follow, unranked.
| # | Country | Score | Adults | Patients | Possession | cultivation | enforcement | Sharing | Consumption | Legal access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1#1 | CanadaLegal with limits | 53 | Legal | Legal | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| 2#8 | DominicaTolerant | 39 | Legal | None verified | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 3#9 | GrenadaTolerant | 39 | Legal | None verified | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 4#10 | Saint LuciaTolerant | 39 | Legal | None verified | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 5#11 | Trinidad and TobagoTolerant | 39 | Legal | Limited | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 6#12 | Antigua and BarbudaTolerant | 37 | Legal | Limited | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 7#15 | JamaicaTolerant | 35 | Decriminalized | Legal | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 8#16 | United StatesTolerant | 34 | Partly legal / tolerated | Legal | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 9#17 | Saint Kitts and NevisTolerant | 33 | Decriminalized | Limited | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 10#22 | MexicoTolerant | 26 | Partly legal / tolerated | Limited | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 11#28 | BelizeRestrictive | 25 | Decriminalized | None verified | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 12#29 | Costa RicaRestrictive | 25 | Decriminalized | Limited | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 13#30 | Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesRestrictive | 24 | Decriminalized | Legal | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 14#35 | BarbadosRestrictive | 22 | Decriminalized | Legal | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 15#56 | NicaraguaRestrictive | 16 | Illegal | None verified | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 16#80 | BahamasProhibition | 11 | Illegal | None verified | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 17#85 | HondurasProhibition | 11 | Illegal | None verified | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 18#93 | PanamaProhibition | 11 | Illegal | Limited | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19#122 | GuatemalaProhibition | 9 | Illegal | None verified | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 20#125 | HaitiProhibition | 9 | Illegal | None verified | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 21#152 | Dominican RepublicProhibition | 6 | Illegal | None verified | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22#162 | CubaSevere prohibition | 3 | Death penalty | None verified | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23#164 | El SalvadorSevere prohibition | 3 | Illegal | None verified | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| – | ArubaCountry within the Kingdom of the Netherlands | 24 | Illegal | None verified | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| – | BermudaBritish Overseas Territory | 19 | Decriminalized | Limited | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| – | British Virgin IslandsBritish Overseas Territory | 11 | Illegal | None verified | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| – | Cayman IslandsBritish Overseas Territory | 11 | Illegal | Limited | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | CuraçaoCountry within the Kingdom of the Netherlands | 25 | Illegal | Limited | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| – | GreenlandSelf-governing territory | 12 | Illegal | Limited | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| – | Puerto RicoUnincorporated territory | 14 | Illegal | Legal | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| – | Sint MaartenCountry within the Kingdom of the Netherlands | 24 | Illegal | Limited | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| – | US Virgin IslandsUnincorporated territory | 33 | Legal | Limited | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
The second number under the rank is the country's place worldwide, of 196.
Latest in North America
The newest entries in the history. All history →
- 21 October 2026
- 19 October 2026
- 14 October 2026
- 12 October 2026
- 12 October 2026
- 7 October 2026
- 5 October 2026
- 2 October 2026
- 1 October 2026
- 29 September 2026
- 26 September 2026
- 24 September 2026