Is Weed Legal in Europe? Cannabis Laws by Country

Germany’s Cannabis Act introduced limited legal possession, private cultivation and non-commercial cultivation associations for adults.

According to the German Federal Ministry of Health , adults may generally possess:

Additional restrictions apply near schools, children’s facilities and certain public areas. There are also stricter distribution rules for cultivation-association members aged 18 to 20.

These changes do not amount to unrestricted commercial legalisation. Ordinary online and retail sales of recreational cannabis remain restricted.

Medical cannabis continues to operate through the medical and pharmacy system.

Possession, use and sale of recreational cannabis remain illegal in France.

Unauthorised possession or consumption can result in penalties, while trafficking and commercial supply carry more serious consequences.

France does permit certain products made from authorised hemp varieties, provided they comply with the applicable rules. The French government’s official CBD guidance explains the national regulatory position and relevant court developments.

THC concentration is only one part of the legal assessment. A CBD product may also need to comply with rules governing:

Products containing more than the permitted amount of THC remain prohibited. Sellers must also avoid presenting ordinary CBD products as medicines unless they have the required authorisation.

Recreational cannabis possession, production and sale remain restricted in Italy.

Medical cannabis can be prescribed through the authorised healthcare framework described by the Italian Ministry of Health .

Italy has introduced broad restrictions affecting hemp inflorescences and products containing them.

The rules cover activities including importation, processing, distribution, transport, delivery and commercial sale of hemp inflorescences and certain products containing them.

The Italian Chamber of Deputies provides an official legislative summary of the framework.

Parts of the framework remain subject to legal challenge. Until legislation is amended or overturned, product legality should be assessed under the rules currently in force.

Spain does not have a nationwide regulated recreational cannabis market.

Private personal use may be treated differently from possession or consumption in public. However, public possession and consumption can lead to administrative sanctions, and unauthorised sale or trafficking remains a criminal offence.

Cannabis social clubs operate in a legally complex environment. Their existence does not mean cannabis is generally legal or that clubs can function as ordinary retail shops.

Spain also regulates cannabis cultivation. The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products explains that cultivation capable of producing narcotic substances generally requires authorisation unless it is exclusively for permitted industrial purposes such as fibre, grain or seed production.

Spain also maintains a regulated framework for standardised medical cannabis preparations. This medical framework does not create a general recreational retail market.