Start Here: How This Site Works
Every country on this site gets exactly one label: the legal pathway, if any, that lets a tourist get cannabis there. The label tells you in one phrase whether you can buy, how, and how much legal protection you have while you do.
The six pathways
| Pathway | What it means for a tourist | Can a tourist legally buy? |
|---|---|---|
| Medical prescription | You can legally get a cannabis prescription from a local doctor and buy with it. | Yes, with a prescription |
| Legal retail | Licensed stores sell to adult visitors. | Yes, with ID |
| Tolerated sales | Sales are technically illegal, but officially tolerated in certain places. | Tolerated, not legal |
| Possession only | Having a small amount is legal, but there's no legal way for a tourist to buy it. | No |
| Hemp-derived only | Only hemp-derived products are a legal option. Often a gray area. | Only hemp-derived products |
| Not an option | There's no legal way for a tourist to get cannabis. | No |
Why the differences matter
The labels aren't a ranking. They describe how much the law is on your side. "Legal" means the law permits it. "Tolerated" means the authorities have chosen not to enforce a law that still exists, and that choice can depend on where you are, how much you have, and who's asking. If something goes wrong, that difference matters a great deal. That's why I never blur the categories, even when two countries feel similar on the ground.
How to read a guide
- Quick answer. The first paragraph tells you whether a tourist can legally get cannabis there, and how.
- Status line. The pathway, the date I last verified the guide, and whether I've been there in person.
- The details. Limits, step-by-step instructions, costs, and what to avoid, each with a source.
- My experience and ratings. Only for countries I've visited.
- Sources and change log. Every legal claim links to its source, and every change is dated.
Three rules for every trip
- Use only the legal pathway in the country you're in.
- Never carry cannabis across an international border. Ready why!
- Check the last-verified date and the sources before you act. Laws change.
See all countries.
How I verify each guide.