Which countries legalized cannabis in 2017?

The year 2017 saw several countries reform their laws on the cannabis for therapeutic or adult use. A look back at these changes.

Germany

In January 2017, the German parliament voted the legalization of cannabis for medical use. The law came into force in March.

Catalonia

In July, the autonomous region of Catalonia voted to legalize the cultivation, consumption and distribution of cannabis through the regulation of Cannabis Social Clubs. Since then, its desire for independence has aroused the Spanish state, which has just’annul the laws of the autonomous regions on cannabis.

Chile

In May 2017, the Chile has become the first Latin American country to sell cannabis products in pharmacies (sales in Uruguay began later, even though the country voted for legalization in 2013). Before that, Chilean patients could buy from the country's few compassion farms or import from abroad.

Georgia

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Georgia has decriminalized cannabis consumption ruling that it is unconstitutional to prosecute someone for cannabis consumption. Cannabis cultivation had been decriminalized by a previous decision from the same court. These two rulings should quickly pave the way for real cannabis legalization.

Greece

In June, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Health Minister Andreas Xanthos announced the legalization of medical cannabis in Greece.

Mexico

In June, President Enrique Peña Nieto signed the legalization of medical cannabis. He called on the Ministry of Health to regulate «the therapeutic use of pharmaceutical cannabis derivatives» and develop a research program to study the effects of cannabis and help build a broader public policy. At the end of December, the country declared authorized as of January 2018 the sale of cannabis-based products (cosmetics, edibles...).

Peru

In October 2017, the Peru has passed a bill to legalize the medical use of cannabis. The reform allows patients with chronic or terminal illnesses to use cannabis oil.

Poland

The Polish President signed the legalization of medical cannabis last July. The Polish parliament voted in favor of legalization in June. The new law will allow patients suffering from serious illnesses to be prescribed cannabis for therapeutic use.

Announcements for 2018

Some countries announced or set in motion their reforms in 2017 for application in 2018. These include:

• the Paraguay has legalized the cultivation of medical cannabis. All that's missing is the President's signature on the law for it to come into force. He had previously announced his support for the project.
• the Luxembourg has announced that it will legalize medical cannabis.
• the New Zealand wanted wider access to medical cannabis within the next 100 days from the end of October.
• In India, a proposal to legalize medical cannabis is before the Parlement. Since the Tata family supports the only medical cannabis company, Our little finger tells us that the legalization of medical cannabis could arrive in India very soon this year.