With the advancement in home-growing technologies, the option of growing cannabis in the home has become much more popular. That being said, growers will want to stay on the right side of the law. This is why we have decided to compile a list of European companies and their laws regarding home grows.
Each European country has its own opinions regarding cannabis, and their laws reflect this. So, without further ado, here is our definitive grow guide for the continent of Europe.
The countries allowing home cultivation are marked in green. Those that only permit home cultivation for medicinal purposes are marked orange. Countries marked in red signifies it is illegal to cultivate cannabis at home. Don't be discouraged if your country is marked red, laws may change soon!
Albania
For years Albania was considered the go-to spot for cannabis in Europe, but it is only in recent years government officials have attempted to crack down on illegal growers. Medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal, but small possessions have been decriminalized. It is also illegal to home cultivate cannabis, and those who get caught may face three to seven years in prison.
Andorra
While smoking tobacco is quite common in Andorra; both recreational and medicinal cannabis remains illegal, with harsh penalties. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Austria
As of 2008, medicinal cannabis has been legal. When it comes to recreational use; the laws are rather complex. Recreational use is decriminalized in small amounts (under 20 grams), but selling cannabis is strictly prohibited. A 2008 law allowed residents to home cultivate cannabis so long as it contained less than 0.3 % THC, it was destroyed before flowering, and there was no intent to harvest THC. Essentially, you could grow and sell cannabis plants as an ornamental houseplant.
Currently, individuals are now allowed to extract THC from the plant for medicinal purposes. The plant must still contain less than 0.3% THC.
Azerbaijan
Both recreational and medicinal cannabis use is illegal. Home cultivation is also prohibited.
Belarus
Cannabis use has some strict laws in this country. Both medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal. Home cultivation is also prohibited. At this time, no upcoming changes to the laws have been mentioned.
Belgium
Recreational cannabis is illegal in Belgium, although small possession charges (under 3 grams) is decriminalized, as long as the individual is not a public nuisance. Medicinal cannabis is technically legal, but individuals are only permitted to use one cannabis-based medication, Sativex, for multiple sclerosis. At this time, home cultivation is also illegal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
At this time both medicinal and recreational cannabis is illegal in this country. Only industrial hemp is permitted to be cultivated, and it must be under 0.2% THC.
Bulgaria
Both medicinal and recreational cannabis is illegal in this country. Only industrial hemp is permitted to be cultivated, and it must be under 0.2% THC.
Croatia
Medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2015 for those with qualifying medical conditions. Recreational cannabis use and home cultivation are currently illegal, but there are plans to change the laws soon. Croatian MP __ stated that legalization is upcoming, and individuals will be permitted to cultivate up to 9 high THC cannabis plants for personal use.
Cyprus
As of 2019, medicinal cannabis is legal to consume and to cultivate at home. Recreational use is still prohibited.
Czechia (Czech Republic)
Medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2013, and recreational cannabis is still technically illegal. As of 2015, small possession charges have been decriminalized (under 10 grams). Home cultivation is permitted, so long as you have under 5 plants. The harvested cannabis must also be solely for personal use.
Denmark
Medicinal cannabis use is legal, but recreational use and home cultivation is illegal.
Estonia
Medicinal cannabis has been technically legal since 2005 for those with qualifying medical conditions. However, from 2005- 2016, only one resident was able to benefit from this legislation due to cancer-related pain. There is no medicinal cannabis program, and the government permits medicinal use on a case by case basis. This has made it rather hard to obtain medical cannabis.
Recreational cannabis use is illegal, but small possessions have been decriminalized (under 7.5 grams). Home cultivation is also prohibited.
Finland
Medicinal cannabis is legal for those with qualifying conditions, and recreational use is illegal, but small possessions have been decriminalized. Home cultivation for any purpose is illegal.
France
While medicinal cannabis is legal, recreational use remains prohibited in this country. Home cultivation is also prohibited, with some harsh penalties. Individuals caught growing cannabis may face 20 years in prison and/ or a fine of 7.5 million Euros.
Georgia
Georgia has an interesting story about how recreational cannabis use became legal. In 2017 recreational and medicinal use became decriminalized, due to the case of Beka Tsikarishvili and several other cases that were upsetting to the public. There are no specific laws for medicinal use. Home cultivation is illegal at this time.
Germany
Currently, recreational cannabis is technically illegal, though small possessions have been decriminalized. Medicinal cannabis is legal in Germany and no permit is required; however, a doctor must believe that cannabis use will benefit your ailment. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Greece
Only medicinal cannabis is permitted in Greece. Recreational cannabis and home cultivation is illegal.
Hungary
Both medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal. Home cultivation is also illegal at this time.
Iceland
It is illegal to use cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use in Iceland. Home cultivation is also illegal, with some severe punishments if you are caught. While medical cannabis is illegal, some neurosurgeons in the country are allowed to prescribe cannabis-derived medication to patients if they feel it would benefit their condition.
Ireland
Only medicinal cannabis is permitted in Ireland. At this time, recreational use and home cultivation is illegal.
Italy
Only medicinal cannabis is legal in Italy. Individuals do not need a medical card to purchase, however, a doctor must suggest you try other medications first, then provide a prescription for a small amount if the other medications are not effective. Home cultivation for medicinal purposes is also prohibited.
You are allowed to grow industrial cannabis (hemp). Individuals must use certified seeds that are under 0.6% THC. If a plant has a higher THC content, the government is allowed to confiscate the plant.
Kazakhstan
Both recreational and medicinal cannabis is illegal in this country. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Kosovo
Both medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal in Kosovo. Home cultivation is also strictly prohibited.
Latvia
At this time both medicinal and recreational cannabis is illegal. Home cultivation is also prohibited, but certified farmers may cultivate industrial hemp with a THC content below 0.2%.
Liechtenstein
Both recreational and medicinal cannabis is illegal, with no signs of change in the near future. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Lithuania
Currently, only medicinal cannabis is permitted in Lithuania. Recreational use and home cultivation are illegal.
Luxembourg
As of 1027, medicinal cannabis is legal, and recreational is very close as a 2-year plan to legalize recreational cannabis was implemented in 2019. Since 2001, recreational use of cannabis has been decriminalized, and use is highly tolerated by officials. At this time home cultivation is illegal, but that legislation may change with the upcoming legality.
Malta
As of 2019 medicinal cannabis has been legal, however, it is only for those suffering from pain due to chemotherapy, multiple sclerosis, or general chronic pain. At this time recreational use is decriminalized for small possessions (under 3.5 grams), and there is talk about fully legalizing recreational use. At this time home cultivation is also prohibited.
Moldova
Medicinal cannabis is illegal, and recreational cannabis has been decriminalized for small possessions. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Monaco
Both medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal in this country. Home cultivation is also prohibited. Did you know you can walk the entire length of the country in under an hour?
Montenegro
Both recreational and medicinal cannabis use is illegal. There was discussion about legalizing medicinal cannabis back in 2014, but unfortunately, it was not legalized. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Netherlands
At this time recreational cannabis is only legal if it is consumed in a coffeeshop (social consumption lounge). Medicinal cannabis is legal for those who have qualifying medical conditions. Home cultivation is prohibited.
North Macedonia
Medicinal cannabis is legal for those with qualifying medical conditions. Recreational cannabis is currently illegal, but there is talk about legalizing the plant. Prime minister Zoran Zaev recently stated he plans on turning the countries capital into the “Amsterdam in the Balkans”. At this time home cultivation is also illegal, but that may change when legalization occurs.
Norway
As of 2016 medicinal cannabis has been legal. Government officials stated in 2017 that recreational cannabis use would be decriminalized in the future, but no date has been set. At this time home cultivation is also prohibited.
Poland
Currently, only medicinal cannabis is legal, though small amounts intended for recreational use have been decriminalized. Home cultivation is also prohibited, with prison sentences between six months to eight years for illegal growing.
Portugal
Portugal has quite relaxed laws regarding cannabis compared to the rest of Europe. Recreational cannabis has been decriminalized since 2001, with the intent to rehabilitate over punishment. Medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2018. Home cultivation remains illegal, but in the past there have been discussions about legalizing home cultivation for medicinal users.
Romania
As of 2013, only medicinal cannabis is legal for certified patients, and only in the form of a cannabis-derived medication. Recreational cannabis use and home cultivation remain illegal.
Russia
Both medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal in Russia. Home cultivation also remains illegal.
San Marino
Medicinal cannabis is technically illegal, but some individuals may be allowed to be prescribed a cannabis-derived medication for certain ailments. Recreational use and home cultivation remain illegal, with no foreseen changes to the law.
Serbia
Medicinal and recreational use is illegal in this country. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Slovakia
Both medicinal and recreational cannabis use is illegal in Slovakia. Home cultivation is also strictly prohibited.
Slovenia
Medicinal cannabis is legalized, however, it must be cannabis-derived medications as cannabis flower for medicinal use is still illegal. Recreational use is technically illegal, although small possession charges have been decriminalized. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Spain
Recreational cannabis use is technically illegal, although Spain residents are allowed to purchase cannabis from a cannabis club. Cannabis consumption in private areas has been decriminalized since 2015. Memberships are only available to those with a Spanish residential address. There are no medical laws regarding cannabis as this country does not differentiate between medicinal and recreational use. Individuals are allowed to home cultivate cannabis, as long as it is only for personal use. Individuals may grow up to five cannabis plants on their property.
Sweden
Both recreational and medicinal cannabis use is illegal, with some harsh penalties. More serious drug-related crimes could land you 10 years in jail, and even small possession charges can result in 6 months imprisonment. Home cultivation is also illegal.
Switzerland
While recreational use is illegal, small possessions of low THC (under 1%) cannabis is decriminalized. Currently, around 140 retailers are offering low THC cannabis for medical purposes. Home cultivation is illegal, but if residents are growing less than 5 plants, the government treats it as a small possession charge.
Turkey
Recreational cannabis is currently illegal, and you may face prison time if you are caught with any amount of cannabis. Medicinal cannabis is technically legal, but residents cannot purchase cannabis flower, only cannabis-derived medications are available, such as Sativex. Growing cannabis at home is also illegal.
Ukraine
At this time both medicinal and recreational use is illegal, but there is talk about developing a medicinal cannabis program in the country. Home cultivation is also illegal.
United Kingdom
As of 2018, medicinal cannabis has been legal in the UK. Recreational cannabis and home cultivation remain illegal.
Vatican City
At this time both recreational and medicinal cannabis is illegal in Vatican City. Home cultivation is also prohibited.
There you have it! our answer to "Where can I grow in Europe?
We hope this was helpful to you, and please keep in mind legislature is constantly chaning. Keep an eye out for any updates to the laws in your area. If you do discover an upcoming change to the law, please let us know in the comments!
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