New York, is the latest state in America, to legalise the social use of marijuana. Which made us ponder just where else you can you get your Cheech on, or mow the grass.
New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana in March 2021 but is still in the process of licensing people to sell it. The state issued its first 36 cannabis dispensary licenses, taking a big step towards establishing a legal marketplace for recreational marijuana.
Eight non-profit groups were among the licensees granted on Monday, which is great news for Housing Works, a New York City non-profit, which said the license would allow it to continue its work helping low-income New Yorkers living with HIV or Aids.
So while New Yorkers await the complete list of retailers and outlets, we offer up 12 countries where the green weed is legal, around the rest of the globe.
Canada
People who are 18 years of age and above can legally possess up to 30 grams of weed in public, as long as they buy it from licensed producers and retailers. What’s more, they can even legally grow up to four plants at home.
Uruguay
Uruguayans can purchase marijuana from pharmacies for recreational purposes. However, they have to first officially register with a regulator, and you have to be over 18.
South Africa
Although they are chill about the use of marijuana, the country’s Constitutional Court decriminalised the possession, growing and usage of weed by adults in private in 2018. However, buying, selling and usage of weed outside private spaces is still illegal, so if you grow it at home like you grow your kale or tomatoes, you are fine.
Jamaica
Welcome to Marley’s country. Jamaica allows the use of cannabis for medicinal and religious purposes and decriminalised weed in 2015. Rastafarians interestingly can have cannabis here in unlimited quantities without any restrictions.
Netherlands
Cannabis in the Netherlands is illegal but is decriminalised for personal use. Recreational consumption of the drug is allowed, and it is available in coffee shops only. As it turns out there are plenty of them to go around.
Costa Rica
The usage of cannabis in somewhat illegal at Costa Rica, but smoking up is quite common here, as it doesn’t carry any legal penalties. The sale of cannabis is, however, punishable. But then, scenes of people lighting up a weed on the beach isn’t unusual here.
Colombia
Whilst the selling of marijuana is still illegal, you can grow up to 20 plants at home for personal use. Taller than your average plants are everywhere, as the climatic conditions are very agreeable. The country has however decriminalised the possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana.
Spain
Spain fully legalised its smoking clubs in 2017 in Catalonia, where you can light up inside a club. But there aren’t any penalties or fines for smoking freely anywhere else.
Belize
Cannabis was decriminalised – up to 10 grams – in 2017. You can have it at home or at someone else’s property but you have to have permission, which is just a small restriction, but not a ban.
The Czech Republic
Medicinal usage of marijuana has been legal here for a while. Most of the marijuana is imported here and can be quite expensive. However, the country has decriminalised the possession of up to 15 grams.
Georgia
Cannabis in Georgia is legal in terms of its possession and consumption in 2018. This makes Georgia one of the first countries in the world to legalize cannabis for both recreational and medical use, and the only former-communist state in the world to do so.
Thailand
Ganja was decriminalized on June 9, 2022. Thai Food and Drug Administration officially removed the cannabis plant from the Category 5 narcotics list. Possession, cultivation, distribution, consumption, and sales of all cannabis plant parts are now legal.
