Cannabis in Albania

History of Cannabis in Albania

From the late 1970s through the 1980s, the cultivation and export of hemp were permitted in Albania, particularly for the oil and textile industries. In the early 1990s, the hemp processing plants collapsed. In 1994, the country adopted a law on narcotic and psychotropic substances that classified cannabis as a controlled substance, and the Penal Code of January 1995 prohibited the use, production, and trade of narcotics. In 2000, Albania acceded to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and hemp was officially classified as a narcotic, thereby prohibiting its use in all sectors.

For three decades, the country has been one of Europe’s largest producers and sellers of illegal cannabis, which explains the authorities’ fear that reform could encourage the misuse of the plant. The national anti-drug strategy for 2012–2016 reinforced this prohibitionist stance. In 2016, the government discussed legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp, but the effort was unsuccessful.

The situation began to change in the early 2020s. The prime minister proposed a public consultation on cannabis, and the government began drafting legislation on cultivation for medical purposes, initially for export. The July 21, 2023, Parliament passed the bill by a vote of 69 to 23, with 3 abstentions, despite strong opposition. The bill had been introduced by the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu.

Cannabis Legislation in Albania

Recreational cannabis: prohibited and subject to enforcement

Recreational cannabis is illegal in Albania. According to Article 283 of the Penal Code, the sale, offering for sale, gifting, distribution, transportation, mailing, and possession of narcotics and seeds of narcotic plants, in violation of the law, are punishable by five to ten years in prison, except in cases of personal use in small doses. The Code does not define what constitutes a «small amount»: in 2008, the government clarified that this is not a fixed amount, but rather a determination made on a case-by-case basis (based on the offender’s age and the THC content of the dose). Cultivation is punishable by three to seven years in prison, and up to ten years in cases of complicity or repeat offenses. Cultivation at home is illegal.

Medical cannabis: produced for export, not for the local market

Before 2023, medical use was prohibited, and doctors could not prescribe it. The law of July 2023 now authorizes the cultivation, production, and processing of medical cannabis, but it explicitly prohibits the retail or wholesale sale, distribution, acquisition, and consumption of medical cannabis products within the country: the sector is geared toward export. The law creates a National Cannabis Control Agency, which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Health and is responsible for overseeing production and processing.

Licenses are granted for 15 years, are renewable, and are reviewed every three years. Each cultivation unit must cover between 5 and 10 hectares, with up to four units per license, and the total area dedicated to medical cannabis cultivation is capped at 200 hectares nationwide (the initial proposal called for 150). Applicants must submit a development plan and demonstrate experience in the sector.

Industrial Hemp and CBD

The same law ends decades of prohibition on industrial hemp, the cultivation and processing of which are now permitted under license, with a view toward export. Before the reform, growing plants used to produce narcotics—even for industrial purposes—was punishable by three to seven years in prison. Furthermore, no regulations specified the status of CBD, which could not be used in food or cosmetics. Patents on cannabis-based products remain difficult to obtain as long as local uses remain prohibited.

News and Outlook

Albania has opted for partial legalization, focused on exports, in the hope of transforming a sector that has long operated underground into a legal industry, without authorizing recreational use. Key developments to watch include the practical implementation of licensing, the arrival of the first crops, and the country’s positioning in European medical cannabis markets. Follow our Cannabis News in Albania See below for updates to the law.