Which Countries Have Legal Medical Cannabis in 2026?

In addition to most of the United States, many countries now allow medical cannabis or cannabis-based medicines in some capacity. However, countries with legal medical cannabis do not all offer the same level of access. In certain areas, patients are able to obtain a prescription for cannabis flower from a pharmacy. In others, medical cannabis legalization applies to a limited number of approved cannabis-based medicines, licensed cultivation for export, or legislation that provides limited practical access. It is important to be aware of these differences when researching medical cannabis laws by country or when comparing regulated cannabis markets.

This guide covers the legal status of medical cannabis, the functioning of national medical cannabis programs, and the key considerations for patients and businesses when comparing which countries have legal medical cannabis in 2026. This overview includes the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Oceania, and focuses on the distinction between legal status and actual access.

What Does "Legal" Mean for Medical Cannabis?

The laws surrounding medical cannabis vary significantly from country to country. There are four general categories of frameworks, and understanding which one applies can help clarify where medical marijuana is legal and what patients can actually access.

1. Comprehensive medical programs. Cannabis flower, oils or extracts can be prescribed or authorized through a regulated patient access system. Canada, Germany, Israel and Australia are examples.

2. Restricted pharmaceutical access. Only specified cannabis-derived medicines or narrow product categories are available. Austria and South Korea work this way.

3. Legal framework with limited patient access. Medical use is permitted by law, but supply, prescribing or distribution is still limited.

4. Licensed cultivation or export frameworks. Cannabis can legally be grown or manufactured for medical or scientific markets, even where domestic patient access is minimal.

These categories may overlap. A country can permit medical cannabis cultivation without making medical cannabis treatment easily accessible to its citizens. Some countries also permit only low-THC or CBD products, which generally aren't considered a full medical cannabis program. When looking at medical cannabis laws across countries, it is crucial to differentiate between legal cultivation, approved cannabis medicines, prescription access and a functioning patient-access system.

The Americas

Canada: Medical access since 2001. Adult-use cannabis has been legal since October 17, 2018.

United States: Most states and Washington, D.C. have medical cannabis programs under state law. In April 2026, a federal final order moved marijuana covered by a qualifying state medical licence, along with FDA-approved marijuana products, from Schedule I to Schedule III. All other marijuana, including adult-use, is still Schedule I. A broader proposal to move all marijuana to Schedule III went through DEA hearings in mid-2026 and hadn't been decided as of early October, and the April order faces legal challenges.

Uruguay: Legalized cannabis for medical and adult use under a 2013 law, with medical regulations developed afterward.

Colombia: Medical cannabis has been regulated since 2015, and the country has become a major licensed growing location.

Argentina: Medical cannabis regulations took effect in September 2017.

Brazil: Prescribed cannabis products are sold through pharmacies under a special framework from Brazil's health regulator, Anvisa. That framework was replaced by a new one, RDC 1.015/2026, which took effect on May 4, 2026.

Costa Rica: Legalized medical cannabis and hemp in 2022.

Also permitted: Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Panama.

Caribbean: Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have medical cannabis frameworks. Jamaica's first medical dispensary opened in 2018.

Europe

There are many different countries in Europe that have legal medical cannabis, including established prescription programs and newer or more limited programs. Medical cannabis access has grown throughout the region, but there are still differences in national rules regarding who can access it, what products are approved, and the rules for prescribing and pharmacy supply. It is important to note that the rules of each country must be examined individually when researching medical cannabis in Europe, and that one country's rules do not necessarily apply to another.

Germany: Europe's biggest medical market, supplied largely by imports. Prescribing became much simpler in 2024.

United Kingdom: Legal since November 2018. Unlicensed medical cannabis products generally require a prescription from a doctor on the GMC Specialist Register.

France: Still in transition. Patients from the medical cannabis experiment keep access under arrangements extended beyond March 31, 2026, while a permanent framework is finalized. New patients can't join yet.

Slovenia: Passed a dedicated law on cannabis for medical and scientific purposes in July 2025, covering production, distribution, prescribing and pharmacy supply.

Spain: Introduced a more formal medical framework in 2025 under Royal Decree 903/2025, focused on standardized preparations, specialist prescribing and hospital pharmacies.

Established or regulated access: the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark and Switzerland, with rules that vary a great deal.

Other newer frameworks: Ukraine (medical cannabis law signed February 2024) and Albania (cultivation and export framework approved July 2023).

Also permitted: Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Malta, North Macedonia and San Marino.

To get a wider picture of cannabis laws in Europe, adult-use regulations and country-to-country differences, check out our overview of where cannabis is legal in Europe. Medical cannabis access and recreational cannabis laws are separate issues, so the legal status of one doesn't automatically establish the status of the other.

Middle East and Asia

Israel: One of the longest-running medical cannabis programs anywhere.

Lebanon: Legalized cultivation for medical use in April 2020.

Thailand: Legalized medical cannabis in 2018 and loosened its rules a great deal in 2022. In 2025 the government tightened the framework again and moved policy back toward medical use, with stronger controls on cannabis flower and non-medical sales.

South Korea: Allows tightly controlled access to certain approved cannabis-derived pharmaceutical products, not a broad medical cannabis program.

Sri Lanka: Cannabis is permitted within traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

Africa

In Africa, the laws on medical cannabis by country frequently differentiate between access for patients and permission to grow or produce cannabis for export. There are some countries that have a licensing system for medical or scientific production, but this does not necessarily imply that residents can get medical cannabis locally. Domestic patient access and commercial cultivation should be evaluated separately for anyone comparing countries with legal medical cannabis.

Medical access

South Africa: Adults may use and grow cannabis in private, following a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling. Medical products are regulated separately.

Licensed cultivation, production and export

Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Rwanda have legal frameworks for licensed cannabis cultivation or production for medical, scientific or export purposes. Botswana passed its own Cannabis Act in 2025. Domestic patient access varies a lot and should be checked separately from cultivation licensing.

Morocco: Legalized cannabis for medical and industrial uses.

Lesotho: One of Africa's earliest licensed medical cannabis cultivation and export jurisdictions, with the industry focused heavily on international supply.

Ghana: Permits licensed cultivation of low-THC cannabis (no more than 0.3% THC) for approved purposes.

Oceania

Australia: Medicinal cannabis is available nationally through federal access pathways, although prescribing and controlled-drug requirements can also vary by state and territory.

New Zealand: Medical use was legalized in 2018, followed by the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme in April 2020.

Can Patients Buy Medical Cannabis in Every Country Where It's Legal?

Not necessarily. A country can allow cultivation, approve a limited number of cannabis-based pharmaceutical products, or have legislation in place but no system for patient access. Therefore, a list of countries where medical cannabis is legal should not be interpreted as a guarantee of access to treatment in the country.

When evaluating an active medical cannabis market, look at the practical aspects as well as the legal aspects:

Who can prescribe? Any doctor, or only specialists?

What products are allowed? Flower, oils and extracts, or only approved pharmaceuticals?

Where does supply come from? Can products be imported, or must they be made locally?

How are products dispensed? Pharmacies, hospitals, clinics or licensed sellers?

What quality standard applies? Many European markets expect EU GMP.

Are patients actually getting it? And are the rules settled, or is a change being debated?

These questions help to differentiate between countries that have wide access to prescription medicines and those that have more restricted medicines or cultivation-only licences. They are also helpful for comparing medical cannabis by country, assessing market entry and gaining insight into the practical implications of medical cannabis legalization.

Medical Cannabis Laws Keep Changing

Medical cannabis laws are constantly changing as governments establish new frameworks, update prescribing guidelines and change access to cannabis-based medicines. Slovenia and Brazil have recently broadened or formalized their systems, and France is still trying to create a permanent system. In other countries, policy has taken a more restrictive turn: Thailand withdrew from the concept of broad access in 2025, and Poland limited telemedicine prescribing in 2024.

Medical cannabis laws by country can change rapidly, so this guide is intended as a starting point and not a replacement for up-to-date legal advice. Check with the appropriate national regulator for the most up-to-date rules before deciding on a treatment or considering a regulated cannabis market.

Weighing a new market? Cannabis Global Consultants helps companies assess and enter regulated cannabis markets around the world. Learn about our global cannabis consulting or our feasibility services.

Last updated: October 5, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Medical cannabis laws change often.

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