https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/changelog/ Laws and rulings that moved a country's score on the Cannabis Freedom Index. en https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/grenada-decriminalisation-2026/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/grenada-decriminalisation-2026/ Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 11 → 37 (+26). Source: Virgin Islands News Online — Grenadian parliament approves amendment to marijuana legislation. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/czechia-home-grow-2026/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/czechia-home-grow-2026/ Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 29 → 44 (+15). Source: Expats.cz — Inside Czechia's 2026 cannabis law. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/slovenia-medical-law-2025/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/slovenia-medical-law-2025/ Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT Medical The law allows cannabis to be grown, produced and prescribed for medical use under licence, replacing a system that had relied on imported products. Index score 22 → 23 (+1). Source: sibiz — Slovenia legalizes medical cannabis, new law effective from August 20, 2025. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/thailand-prescription-only-2025/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/thailand-prescription-only-2025/ Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT Tightening 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. Index score 64 → 27 (−37). Source: The Thaiger — Cannabis in Thailand 2026, the new medical-only rules. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/japan-use-criminalised-2024/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/japan-use-criminalised-2024/ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT Tightening 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. Index score 3 → 2 (−1). Source: GrowerIQ — Japan's cannabis law reform, criminalizing use while opening the door to medicine. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ukraine-medical-2024/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ukraine-medical-2024/ Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT Medical Pharmacies may dispense cannabis-based medicines on electronic prescription. Recreational law did not change: up to 5 g remains an administrative offence. Index score 22 → 23 (+1). Source: Rubryka — New law legalizing medical cannabis comes into effect (August 2024). https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/slovakia-penal-reform-2024/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/slovakia-penal-reform-2024/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 9 → 11 (+2). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Slovakia. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/bahamas-cannabis-act-2024/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/bahamas-cannabis-act-2024/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 11 → 22 (+11). Source: Eyewitness News — Government unveils legislation to decriminalise cannabis for medical, research and religious use. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/brazil-supreme-court-2024/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/brazil-supreme-court-2024/ Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 15 → 23 (+8). Source: Conectas — Brazilian Supreme Court decriminalizes possession of marijuana for personal use. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/germany-cannabis-act-2024/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/germany-cannabis-act-2024/ Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 21 → 44 (+23). Source: Bundesgesundheitsministerium — FAQ zum Cannabisgesetz. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ecuador-threshold-table-repealed-2023/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ecuador-threshold-table-repealed-2023/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT Tightening 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. Index score 23 → 18 (−5). Source: El Universo — Tabla de consumo de drogas, parámetros y debate en la Asamblea. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/luxembourg-home-grow-2023/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/luxembourg-home-grow-2023/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 20 → 37 (+17). Source: IDPC — Growing and smoking weed at home now legal in Luxembourg. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/switzerland-pilot-sales-2023/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/switzerland-pilot-sales-2023/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 29 → 30 (+1). Source: Prohibition Partners — Switzerland adult-use overview. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/guyana-no-jail-2022/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/guyana-no-jail-2022/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 9 → 17 (+8). Source: Department of Public Information, Guyana — Proposed amendment of Narcotic Act submitted to National Assembly. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/switzerland-medical-2022/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/switzerland-medical-2022/ Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT Medical Doctors may prescribe cannabis without asking the federal health office for an exceptional permit each time. Index score 28 → 29 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Switzerland. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/thailand-decriminalisation-2022/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/thailand-decriminalisation-2022/ Thu, 09 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 7 → 64 (+57). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/norway-supreme-court-2022/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/norway-supreme-court-2022/ Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 12 → 17 (+5). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Norway. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/papua-new-guinea-controlled-substance-act-2022/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/papua-new-guinea-controlled-substance-act-2022/ Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT Tightening 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. Index score 11 → 7 (−4). Source: National Parliament — Controlled Substance Act 2021. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/costa-rica-medical-2022/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/costa-rica-medical-2022/ Wed, 02 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT Medical The president signed a law allowing cannabis to be grown and processed for medical use and legalising hemp. Personal use was already not punished. Index score 22 → 23 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Costa Rica. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/malta-legalisation-2021/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/malta-legalisation-2021/ Sat, 18 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 22 → 41 (+19). Source: Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis Act (Cap. 628). https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/panama-medical-2021/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/panama-medical-2021/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT Medical Panama became the first country in Central America to regulate cannabis for medical use, with a national patient registry and licensed producers. Index score 11 → 12 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Panama. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-lucia-decriminalisation-2021/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-lucia-decriminalisation-2021/ Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 11 → 37 (+26). Source: Mugglehead — St. Lucia decriminalizes up to 30 g of cannabis for adult use. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/morocco-law-13-21-2021/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/morocco-law-13-21-2021/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT Medical Law 13-21 created a state agency to license growing in three Rif provinces for medicines, cosmetics and industry. Recreational kif stayed illegal. Index score 12 → 13 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Morocco. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/mexico-supreme-court-2021/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/mexico-supreme-court-2021/ Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 17 → 25 (+8). Source: Transcend Media Service — Supreme Court in Mexico declares cannabis prohibition unconstitutional. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/barbados-fines-2021/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/barbados-fines-2021/ Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 12 → 22 (+10). Source: Barbados Today — Prescod breaks from government on drug penalty law (March 2021). https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ireland-adult-caution-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ireland-adult-caution-2020/ Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT Easing The adult caution scheme was extended to simple possession of cannabis, so a first offence can end with a formal caution and no prosecution. Index score 12 → 14 (+2). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/argentina-reprocann-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/argentina-reprocann-2020/ Thu, 12 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 20 → 26 (+6). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Argentina. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/dominica-decriminalisation-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/dominica-decriminalisation-2020/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 11 → 37 (+26). Source: CARICOM Today — Dominica parliament passes legislation to decriminalise small amounts of marijuana. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/france-fixed-fine-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/france-fixed-fine-2020/ Tue, 01 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 11 → 13 (+2). Source: CIDJ — Détention de cannabis, je risque quoi ?. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/seychelles-medical-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/seychelles-medical-2020/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT Medical After a Constitutional Court ruling the year before, regulations allowed cannabidiol-based products to be prescribed for medical purposes. Index score 11 → 12 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Seychelles. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/new-zealand-medicinal-scheme-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/new-zealand-medicinal-scheme-2020/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 18 → 20 (+2). Source: Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor — Cannabis in Aotearoa New Zealand. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ghana-narcotics-commission-act-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ghana-narcotics-commission-act-2020/ Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 9 → 16 (+7). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ghana. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-kitts-56-grams-2020/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-kitts-56-grams-2020/ Sat, 15 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 29 → 33 (+4). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Kitts and Nevis. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/trinidad-decriminalisation-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/trinidad-decriminalisation-2019/ Mon, 23 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 6 → 37 (+31). Source: TNI — Trinidad and Tobago lawmakers approve marijuana decriminalization bill. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/italy-home-growing-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/italy-home-growing-2019/ Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 23 → 26 (+3). Source: Diritto.it — Coltivazione domestica di cannabis, verso la depenalizzazione. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/brazil-pharmacy-products-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/brazil-pharmacy-products-2019/ Tue, 03 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 14 → 15 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Brazil. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/barbados-medical-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/barbados-medical-2019/ Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT Medical Two laws set up a licensed medical cannabis industry and allowed Rastafari to use cannabis as a sacrament at their places of worship. Index score 11 → 12 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Barbados. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ecuador-medical-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ecuador-medical-2019/ Sun, 15 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 22 → 23 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ecuador. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/new-zealand-police-discretion-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/new-zealand-police-discretion-2019/ Tue, 13 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 13 → 18 (+5). Source: NZ Ministry of Health — Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2019 post-implementation review (PDF). https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-kitts-decriminalisation-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-kitts-decriminalisation-2019/ Wed, 31 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 11 → 29 (+18). Source: SKNIS — Historic amendments to the Drugs Act passed in the National Assembly (2019). https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ireland-medical-access-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/ireland-medical-access-2019/ Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT Medical A five-year pilot allows consultants to prescribe approved cannabis products for three conditions where other treatment has failed. Index score 11 → 12 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Ireland. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/israel-fines-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/israel-fines-2019/ Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 20 → 25 (+5). Source: Al-Monitor — Israel's cannabis revolution. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/thailand-medical-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/thailand-medical-2019/ Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 6 → 7 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Thailand. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/cyprus-medical-expanded-2019/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/cyprus-medical-expanded-2019/ Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT Medical A new law extended medical cannabis beyond advanced cancer to a list of chronic conditions and provided for licensed growers. Index score 9 → 10 (+1). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Cyprus. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/antigua-cannabis-act-2018/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/antigua-cannabis-act-2018/ Sat, 15 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT Easing The Act allowed four plants per household, recognised Rastafari sacramental use and set up a licensing authority for medical cannabis. Index score 28 → 36 (+8). Source: IDPC — Antigua and Barbuda set to pass inclusive cannabis regulation law. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-vincent-medical-2018/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/saint-vincent-medical-2018/ Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 22 → 24 (+2). Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/uk-medical-cannabis-2018/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/uk-medical-cannabis-2018/ Thu, 01 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT Medical 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. Index score 13 → 15 (+2). Source: BMJ — Medical cannabis, patients turn to private clinics because of NHS void (PDF). https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/canada-cannabis-act-2018/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/canada-cannabis-act-2018/ Wed, 17 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 15 → 53 (+38). Source: Department of Justice Canada — Cannabis legalization and regulation. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/south-africa-constitutional-court-2018/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/south-africa-constitutional-court-2018/ Tue, 18 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT Legalisation 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. Index score 11 → 49 (+38). Source: Constitutional Court of South Africa — Minister of Justice v Prince [2018] ZACC 30. https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/georgia-constitutional-court-2018/ https://cannabisfreedom.fyi/history/georgia-constitutional-court-2018/ Mon, 30 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT Easing 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. Index score 19 → 22 (+3). Source: IDPC — Cannabis use can no longer be punished in Georgia, court rules.