A Holiday Guide for Cannabis Smokers (2026)

Now that cannabis is more accepted around the world than it has ever been, here’s a rundown of the weed-friendliest corners of the planet to keep in mind when you’re planning your next stoner holiday. And there are far more of them than you might think.

The map has shifted a lot since this guide first appeared back in 2010 — Germany has gone properly legal, Canada has been legal for years, and Thailand has pulled right back from the free-for-all it briefly became. So treat this as a living document: laws change fast, and this is general info, not legal advice.

Always double-check the latest local rules before you fly, and shout if you spot anything out of date.

At a glance — the quick hit list

Country	What it means for you	Headline
Germany	Legal since 2024	25g pub / 3 plants / clubs
Canada	Fully legal (2018)	Buy at licensed dispensaries
Uruguay	Legal for residents (2013)	Tourists can’t legally buy yet
Malta	Legal for personal use (2021)	7g carry / clubs
South Africa	Decriminalised (2018 + 2024 act)	Private use / grow
Thailand	Medical-only (since mid-2025, unenforced)	Recreational still ongoing
Portugal	Decriminalised (2001)	All drugs, personal use
Netherlands	Coffeeshops tolerated	Tourist restrictions in some cities
Spain	Clubs + home grow	Public smoking frowned on
Jamaica	Decriminalised (2015)	2oz / religious + medical
Czech Republic	Tolerated	Up to 5 plants home
Luxembourg	Home grow legal (2023)	Up to 4 plants
Switzerland	Pilots in several cities	Zurich/Basel/Geneva trials

Albania

Small amounts of cannabis have been decriminalised in Albania, and it’s cheap, sunny and genuinely gorgeous — a proper budget beach holiday. The loosened rules are still a bit of a grey area in practice, so keep it discreet. Official tourism site

Argentina

Personal possession of small amounts for private use has been decriminalised here by the courts, and growing a few plants for yourself is broadly tolerated. The wine, the asado and the football more than make up for the fact that you’re not going to find a licensed dispensary on every corner. Visit Argentina

Australia

Australia is a patchwork — the Australian Capital Territory went further and basically legalised personal possession and home grows, while other states run medical schemes or decriminalised approaches. Down in Nimbin the counterculture is alive and well and it’s still the country’s cannabis capital. Tourism Australia · Nimbin Hemp Embassy · state-by-state rules

Belgium

Yes, Belgium! It’s long been broadly tolerated for adults to have a few grammes at home, and you won’t generally be bothered for personal amounts — though actually getting hold of it as a tourist can still be a challenge. Visit Belgium · the law in Belgium

Canada

Fully legal since October 2018. Walk into any licensed dispensary, buy what you like, and enjoy it — a truly grown-up model. British Columbia has a particular reputation for ‘BC Bud’, and it’s every bit as beautiful as they say. Explore Canada · Health Canada cannabis rules

Colombia

Decriminalised for small amounts, and it’s quietly become a serious exporter of medical cannabis too. Backpack from the coffee region to the Caribbean coast and you’ll find a relaxed, sun-drenched vibe — just keep it low-key. Colombia travel · Colombia cannabis law

Czech Republic

Possession of small amounts is broadly tolerated, and growing up to five plants at home for personal use has been effectively allowed for years. A proper commercial legalisation bill has been bubbling under — it’s a country to watch. Czech tourism · Czech cannabis law

Georgia

Georgia decriminalised possession of small amounts back in 2018, and Tbilisi has a famously relaxed nightlife. Not a dispensary destination, but a cheap, beautiful and open-minded stop. Georgia cannabis law

Germany

Big one. Since 1 April 2024 Germany legalised cannabis for adults — up to 25g in public, 50g at home, three plants at home, and a growing network of licensed cannabis social clubs. It’s the largest legal market in Europe. Just remember the tourist golden rule: you can’t legally buy it on the street, so lean on the clubs and the home-grow rules. Germany’s cannabis law · Visit Germany

Holland (the Netherlands)

Do I need to say anything? The Dutch have long had the most grown-up cannabis policy in Europe, and the term ‘coffeeshops’ is basically shorthand for it.

But here’s the catch: several municipalities, including Amsterdam, have been tightening rules and some now restrict tourists. Do your homework on which cities are still welcoming before you go. how Dutch drive-thru coffee shops changed everything · Holland tourism · how Dutch coffeeshops work

Iran

Honestly, skip Iran for a weed holiday. Despite a long history of opium and some tolerance in practice, cannabis itself carries heavy penalties under Iranian law — it is simply not worth the risk. Iran’s drug penalties

Jamaica

Montego Bay, the beaches, the culture — Jamaica is a cannabis tourism institution. The 2015 Ganja Act decriminalised possession of up to two ounces and legalised it for medical and religious (Rastafari) use. It’s now as much about the herb as the reggae, and it’s gorgeous. Visit Jamaica · Jamaica cannabis law

Luxembourg

Tiny country, big move. Luxembourg legalised home cultivation up to four plants in 2023 — a genuinely progressive stance for a small EU state. Not a place to go shopping for it, but nice to know it’s headed the right way. Luxembourg cannabis law

Malta

Malta became the first EU country to legalise recreational cannabis back in 2021 — up to 7g to carry, four plants at home, and a licensed social-club model. Sunny, cheap, open-minded. What’s not to like? Malta cannabis law

Mexico

Mexico’s Supreme Court effectively decriminalised personal use in 2021, and the move towards legalisation keeps gathering pace — but there’s still no legal retail market for tourists. Keep it discreet and enjoy the beaches. Visit Mexico · the 2021 ruling (BBC)

Pakistan

Cannabis has a long cultural history here and is widely consumed, but don’t confuse that with it being safe — possession carries heavy penalties under Pakistani law, so it’s really not a place to take a risk on a holiday. If you want that South Asian vibe without the legal danger, consider the far more tolerant Morocco instead. Pakistan tourism

Peru

Peru allows you to possess up to 8 grammes for personal use, provided you’re not holding anything else with it. Machu Picchu, Cusco, the coast — a stunning country with a fairly laid-back attitude to personal amounts. Visit Peru

Portugal

Portugal decriminalised the possession of small amounts of all drugs back in 2001 — that’s the year to remember, not the 1990s — and it remains one of the most thoughtful drug policies in the world. Nothing to buy legally, but if you’re carrying personal amounts you won’t be treated as a criminal. Low-key and beautiful, with great surfing. Visit Portugal · Portugal’s drug policy

South Africa

Once just a vague ‘Cape Town is pretty good’ — now it’s a real one. The Constitutional Court decriminalised private use and cultivation for adults in 2018, and the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act (2024) cemented it. Cape Town has a lively, chill scene. South African tourism · South Africa cannabis law

Spain

Spain decriminalised private possession and home cultivation, and the workaround is the cannabis social club scene — especially in Barcelona. Public smoking is still frowned upon and there’s a legal grey area around the clubs, so do your research. The food, the sun and the vibe are unbeatable. Visit Spain · Granada · Spain cannabis law

Switzerland

Possession of small amounts is tolerated in Switzerland, and several cities — Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne — have been running regulated non-medical pilot trials where members can pick up legally. It’s a fascinating, quietly progressive place. Geneva · the Zurich trial · Swiss cannabis law

Thailand

Thailand was the poster child for rollout legalisation in 2022, then slammed the brakes — since mid-2025 it’s back to medical-only, and the recreational free-for-all is over. Dispensaries have adapted, but you can no longer just walk in and buy recreationally. If you’re heading east, read up properly — see our in-depth Thailand guide.

Uruguay

Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully regulate and sell cannabis back in 2013. The catch for us tourists: legal purchase is restricted to registered residents at pharmacies, so you can’t just rock up and buy. That said, it’s a beautiful, progressive country and the policy keeps evolving — there’s active talk about opening it up to visitors. Uruguay tourism · Uruguay cannabis law

The big changes since this guide was first written

• Germany went fully legal in April 2024 — the largest legal market in Europe.
• Canada has been fully legal since 2018.
• Thailand legalised then claimed medical only. Reality is different.
• Portugal decriminalised all drugs for personal use back in 2001.
• Malta (2021) and Luxembourg (2023) became the EU’s most progressive.
• Uruguay was first (2013) but still restricts legal sale to residents.
• South Africa decriminalised private use in 2018, ratified in 2024.

Three golden rules for a weed-friendly holiday

• Know the local law before you land. Decriminalised isn’t the same as legal, and enforcement varies wildly.
• Only buy from licensed or genuinely trusted sources. A stranger selling on a beach is rarely a good idea, and quality/risk is unmanaged.
• Never take cannabis across a border. Even between two friendly countries, flying or driving with it is a world of trouble.

A couple of honest caveats before you book anything. ‘Weed-friendly’ is not the same as ‘safe to buy off a stranger’ — know the local rules, only buy from licensed or genuinely trusted sources, and never, ever take cannabis across an international border, even between two friendly countries; it’s a world of trouble.

Laws also move quickly, so treat this whole page as a starting point and verify the current status before you travel. For a balanced look at where the law stands more broadly, NORML keeps an up-to-date international map, and the European drugs agency covers the European picture.

If you run a cannabis-friendly holiday spot, or you’ve found a gem we’ve missed, drop us a line and we’ll add it. Stuck on where to go? Start with one of our city deep-dives — we’ve got Geneva, Granada and how Dutch drive-thru coffee shops changed everything to get you thinking.