The same rule, everywhere we track it. Open a jurisdiction for the full picture and official sources.
Plain-language summaries, not legal advice. Check the official source linked on each rule.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Rule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| California, USA | Legal | Above the limits: misdemeanours Possessing more than 28.5 g of cannabis or 8 g of concentrate, growing more than six plants, or selling without a licence is a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in jail and a 500 dollar fine. People under 21 caught with cannabis face an infraction with drug education or community service. Making concentrates with butane or other solvents at home can be charged as a felony. |
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| Colorado, USA | Legal | Above 2 oz and public use: state penalties Public consumption is a petty offence with a fine of up to 100 dollars. Possessing more than 2 and up to 6 ounces is a level 2 drug misdemeanour, more than 6 and up to 12 ounces a level 1 drug misdemeanour, and more than 12 ounces a felony. Selling without a licence and supplying anyone under 21 are crimes. Driving with 5 ng/ml of THC in blood or more allows a court to infer impairment. |
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| New York, USA | Legal | Above the limits: fines, then misdemeanours and felonies Possessing more than the legal amounts is a violation with a fine of up to 125 dollars. More than 16 ounces of cannabis or 5 ounces of concentrate is criminal possession in the third degree, a class A misdemeanour; more than 5 pounds is a class E felony and more than 10 pounds a class D felony. Selling without a licence is a crime, and growing more than the allowed plants carries a civil penalty of up to 200 dollars. |
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| Germany | Legal | Over the limits: fines, then criminal charges Carrying 25 to 30 g, or keeping 50 to 60 g at home, is an administrative offence with a fine of 250 to 1,000 euros. Above 30 g in public, above 60 g at home or more than three plants is a criminal offence with up to three years in prison or a fine. Selling or passing cannabis on is a crime; an adult over 21 who supplies someone under 18 faces at least two years in prison. Smoking near children is fined 300 to 1,000 euros, and in the no use zones 50 to 500 euros. |
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| Malta | Legal | Fines for public use and for using near children Smoking or using cannabis in public is fined 235 euros. Using it in front of anyone under 18, in public or at home, is fined 300 to 500 euros. Minors found with a small amount are not fined but are referred to a care plan. Amounts above 28 g, or signs of sale, can be prosecuted under the drug laws, and supplying cannabis outside a licensed association remains a crime. |
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| Netherlands | Decriminalized | Above the tolerated amounts: Opium Act penalties Above the tolerated amounts the Opium Act applies. Intentional possession or cultivation of cannabis carries up to two years in prison or a fifth category fine, but amounts up to 30 g are treated as a minor offence with at most one month of detention or a second category fine. Professional or commercial cultivation and large quantities carry up to six years. In practice, more than five plants at home leads to prosecution. |
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| Portugal | Decriminalized | Growing and selling remain crimes Cultivating cannabis for personal use is still a crime punishable by up to three months in prison or a fine of up to 30 days. Trafficking carries four to twelve years, or one to five years in less serious cases. Possession within the ten day amount leads only to administrative measures from a dissuasion commission. |
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| Spain | Decriminalized | Selling or growing for others is a crime Selling, supplying or growing cannabis for others is drug trafficking under article 368 of the Criminal Code: one to three years in prison and a fine for drugs that do not cause serious harm, such as cannabis, with higher penalties for large amounts or sales near schools. Public use and possession, and cultivation visible from the street, are administrative offences fined from 601 euros. |
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| Switzerland | Decriminalized | Selling, growing or larger amounts: Narcotics Act penalties Growing THC cannabis, selling it or holding more than a small amount for one's own use is an offence under Article 19 of the Narcotics Act, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine; serious cases (large scale trafficking, gangs) carry at least one year. Using cannabis is a minor offence fined 100 francs for adults. |
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| Uruguay | Legal | Sales outside the system remain trafficking Selling or supplying cannabis outside the regulated channels, or growing beyond the registered limits, is still prosecuted under the drug law (Decree Law 14.294), with prison terms that start at 20 months. Possession above 40 g is assessed by a judge. |
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