The Czech Republic passed a landmark measure in late May that will legalize the cultivation, possession, use, and sale of cannabis by adults. This measure will be implemented on 1st January 2026.
After more than two year of intensive (and mostly volunteer) work, we have made it. “Cannabis prohibition just received its largest blow in Central Europe in over 70 years and now the Czech Republic is the third nation in Europe after Germany and Malta where adults can grow, harvest dry, process and store cannabis legally,” said Lukas Hrt, a long-time Czech cannabis activist.
Adults in the Czech Republic will be able to grow up to 3 plants at home. Adults are also allowed to have up to 100 grams dried cannabis. As part of this measure, the punishments will also be lowered for those who use cannabis in quantities greater than that which is permitted for personal consumption. Below is a comparison of the legalization models used in Czechia and other countries.
Uruguay
Uruguay became the first ever country to legalize cannabis for adult use at a national level in 2013. Adult households in Uruguay can grow up to six plants. Additionally, adults can possess up to ‘40 grams per month.’ Enforcement is difficult, as it is with any possession limit that’s based on a specific period of time. In a direct comparison however, the Czechia model does not compare to Uruguay’s in terms of cultivation but it is better when it is compared to possession.
Unfortunately, the current European Union agreement does not allow member countries to implement a national recreational cannabis commerce system. This includes in Czech Republic. Uruguay’s model works better on this front because adult cannabis can be purchased legally through Uruguayan pharmacies. In Uruguay adults also have the choice to join an association for noncommercial cannabis cultivation, whereas this is not possible under Czechia’s current system.
Canada
Canada was the second nation to have legalized adult cannabis use on a federal level in 2018 and has the strongest adult cannabis rights of any legalized country. Canadian adult households are allowed to grow four cannabis plants. Some local jurisdictions, however, still ban home cultivation. In Canada, the legal limit for possession is 30 grams dried flower. However, there are other limits that apply to cannabis in different forms. The cultivation limits in Canada are slightly higher than those in the Czech Republic, but they’re lower on the possession front.
Canada offers the most diverse range of commerce opportunities for cannabis users over the age of 18. Customers can purchase cannabis in brick and mortar stores or order cannabis via the postal service. The Czech model of legalization does not allow adult-use marijuana commerce.
Malta
Malta, the first European nation to have legalized cannabis, became the third European state to do so in 2021. Malta has no regulated national sale system due to EU agreements. However, adults are allowed to join noncommercial cannabis cultivation associations to legally source their products. Malta’s approach to legalization has a better component than the Czech Republic.
Malta has a cultivation limit of four plants. This is the same as the Canadian limit, but one extra plant than in the Czech Republic. Malta has a possession limit of 50 grams which is less than half the amount that is allowed in the Czech Republic. Malta’s legal cannabis age, like that of Uruguay, Canada and Canada is 18 years, while the Czech Republic is expected to have a legal limit age 21. Some Canadian local jurisdictions have set the age limit at 19, however, federally there is only an 18-year-old minimum.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s lawmakers approved the legalization of cannabis for adult use in 2023. Despite the fact that adult households are allowed to have as many as four cannabis plants within their own homes, only three grams can be possessed by adults. In Luxembourg, certain personal cannabis activities can still lead to a fine. Luxembourg’s legalization model is therefore the least effective of any national models currently in use.
Germany
On April 20, 2024, the German lawmakers approved what many consider to be one of the biggest national measures to date for adult cannabis use legalization, from a geopolitical standpoint. Germany is the largest country in Europe and a leader on the international stage when it comes economics and industries. At the International Cannabis Business Conference held in Berlin, the importance of German legalization for the global and European cannabis industries was discussed.
Germany’s legalization system allows adult householders to cultivate three plants and adults to possess 50 grams of marijuana in private, and 25 grams for public use. German law allows non-commercial associations for cultivation and eventually regional adult use commerce pilot tests. Neither of these are planned at this time in the Czech Republic. The cultivation limits in Czechia are the same as Germany, but the possession limit is twice that of Germany.
South Africa
South Africa became the first African nation to legalize adult use of cannabis in 2024. South Africa offers adults a number of freedoms when it comes to cannabis. South Africa’s cannabis cultivation limits are 4 plants for adults or 8 plants in a household.
In addition, South African adults can possess up to 60 grams of dry cannabis in their private homes. South Africa has been expecting to have a framework that allows for legalized recreational cannabis commerce, but this hasn’t yet happened.