How I Verify, Classify, and Rate Each Country
How I research the law
Every legal claim on this site, including possession limits, purchase rules, and where you can consume, links to an official or reputable source. Each guide shows when it was last verified and keeps a change log. When laws are in flux, I say so and note what to watch.
How I classify countries
Each country falls into exactly one pathway: medical prescription, legal retail, tolerated sales, possession only, hemp-derived only, or not an option. I try never to blur these categories, because the difference between "legal" and "tolerated" matters a great deal if something goes wrong. Each category is explained here.
Firsthand vs. researched
Where I've visited, I document the exact steps I took, what it cost, how long it took, and what I'd do differently. Where I haven't, the guide is clearly labeled "Not yet verified in person."
What "last verified" means
The last-verified date is the day I last checked a guide's legal facts, limits, and prices against its sources. Fixing a typo doesn't change it. I re-check every guide at least once a year, and sooner when I hear about a change.
What I don't cover
I only cover legal ways to obtain cannabis within a country. I won't help with buying from illegal sellers or getting around enforcement. Never carry cannabis across an international border, even between two places where it's legal.
Ratings
For countries I've visited, I give three personal 1–5 scores. They reflect one visit and my own impressions, not lab testing or a survey, and each guide shows the month I visited.
Score | What it measures | 1 means | 3 means | 5 means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ease of buying legally | How easy it was for me to buy through the legal pathway | The legal route existed but was slow, costly, or confusing enough that most visitors would give up | Doable, but took planning, paperwork, or more than a day | Simple and quick, with little more than ID |
Product | How much I liked the cannabis I got | I wouldn't buy it again | Fine, nothing special | As good as the best licensed product I've had at home |
Overall trip | How much I enjoyed the place as a traveler | I wouldn't go back | Glad I went, but not a priority to return | I'd go back tomorrow |
In "not an option" countries, Ease of buying is n/a, because there's no legal route to score. I never score a gray-market or illegal purchase.
How the site makes money
No person or company sponsors my content or travel. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no cost to you, and I label them wherever they appear. Commissions never change my ratings or recommendations, and I'll recommend things I earn nothing from when they're the best option. You can read the full affiliate disclosure here.
Corrections
Spotted something outdated? Tell me, and I'll check it, update the guide, and note the change in its change log and the site-wide change log.
Not legal or medical advice
This site shares research and personal experience. Laws change, so confirm the current rules with official sources before you travel. Full disclaimer!
Community
You can share your own experiences on our Discord. The same rule applies there: legal pathways only.