Today, like yesterday, the cultivation of hemp is an issue that is arousing discussion throughout Europe. But unfortunately, not all states allow it to be grown for personal or medical use.
Today, it is possible to find quality legal weed online based on cannabidiol (CBD). This substance has no psychoactive effect on the brain and is not addictive, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Furthermore, you should know that buying your favourite CBD oil or ordering high-quality CBD flowers online is legal at the best CBD shop Justbob. Besides, you can also buy cannabis seeds legally!
This article aims to provide an overview of the legal cultivation of cannabis across Europe, emphasising those Member States that allow the possession of plants in the home and use for personal and medical purposes.
Legal hemp: what the EU member states say
CBD in Europe: few EU Member States are allowed to grow it for personal use, but CBD is legal in Ireland and most European countries
The legislation on cannabis cultivation in Europe is not uniform. In other words, some Member States have given the green light for consumption, others for cultivation, while still others have adopted more restrictive policies.
As of December 2021, Luxembourg is the first nation to legalise the home production and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes. In the Netherlands, on the other hand, it is allowed to be sold but only in authorised places, i.e. well-known coffee shops.
Marijuana, on the other hand, is illegal in the following countries of the European Union:
- France;
- Greece;
- United Kingdom;
- Germany;
- Finland;
- Ireland.
Cultivation is permitted by law in other countries such as Spain, Switzerland and Belgium.
The question of the use of hemp for therapeutic purposes is different.
For example, the UK and Denmark have made medical cannabis legal since 2018, but fewer patients can access the program compared to countries like France and Italy.
Malta and Luxembourg: first EU states to say yes to hemp cultivation
Along with Luxembourg, Malta is another of the few Member States that has legalised cannabis, decriminalising its cultivation for personal use.
Citizens who have reached the age of majority will be able to cultivate it in their homes up to a maximum of four hemp plants.
In addition, the country has also given the go-ahead for transporting a quantity not exceeding seven grams. Still, the ban on smoking marijuana in public and front of children remains.
After the Grand Duchy, it is the turn of Catalonia, the Netherlands, and Belgium to legalise cannabis (but with the necessary limitations)
Catalonia is another interesting case. In 2017, the Spanish autonomous region legalised cannabis, including cultivation. However, the capital challenged the regional law, declaring it unconstitutional. But fortunately for Catalan cannabis advocates, this law has partly ‘survived’.
To date, it is possible to grow seedlings at home, as long as they are not visible from the street or public places. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Netherlands also allows the consumption and sale of cannabis. As far as cultivation is concerned, it is possible if you do not exceed the maximum of five plants in a house.
In any case, the criticism levelled at Holland mainly concerns the lack of clarity in the legislation, which has led to a phenomenon of genuine illegal trade. As a result, according to the other member states, the country took on a strongly negative connotation.
Last is Belgium, where cultivation for personal use is legal. However, anyone who owns two plants risks being severely punished by the law. From this, it follows that a plant’s cultivation is allowed and complies fully with the legislation.
In addition, the Belgian government recently approved hemp cultivation for medical purposes within the Member State, funding research on cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Conclusions
This article aimed to highlight the substantial differences between the different member states of the European Union regarding the cultivation of hemp. While pioneering and avant-garde nations such as Luxembourg and Malta have given the green light for its cultivation, not all countries seem to agree.
We have noticed that some nations, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, etc., strictly forbid it. In other countries, on the other hand, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, cultivation for personal use is allowed, with a maximum limit of plants for each home.
Then there is the curious case of the Spanish autonomous region, Catalonia, where a law is approved—later declared unconstitutional by the capital—in which the OK is given for legalising light marijuana. But, in general, it is possible to say that Europe is not a continent that tends to favour the cultivation of cannabis for personal use and that there is still a long way to go.
What is certain is that numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits of medical cannabis, although many doctors from all over Europe remain sceptical of its effectiveness.
To conclude, today, it is possible to buy excellent legal cannabis on sites like Justbob, considered by most sectors a point of reference for the sale of products in full compliance with the law.