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Where is cannabis legal in North and Central America? Nationwide cannabis legalization first came to North America in 2018 when Canada followed Uruguay as the second country in the world to legalize marijuana for adult use. Mexico followed suit three years later, when officials in March, 2021 approved a law to legalize recreational cannabis nationwide. But what about the United States? While cannabis is legal in 19 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and Guam, it remains illegal on the federal level, and it is uncertain if this legal reality will change anytime soon.
In Central America, the cannabis laws remain well behind those of North America, including for medicinal cannabis.
Here is where things stand on marijuana legalization in North and Central America.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal (personal use decriminalized)
In March 2018, Antigua and Barbuda decriminalized the possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis (or cannabis resin). The amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act also allows the cultivation of up to four cannabis plants per household and expunges prior arrests or convictions that involve less than 15 grams of marijuana.
One month later, the Caribbean nation drafted legislation to legalize the sale of cannabis for recreational and medical purposes, and in April 2019, officially launched the Antigua and Barbuda Medicinal Cannabis Council.
In June, 2021, the country issued its first medical cannabis license through the country’s Medicinal Cannabis Authority, to the local company Grow Antigua.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Medical and recreational cannabis are illegal in the Bahamas, but the situation appears to be changing.
In February, 2021, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced that the government was near completion of legislation to legalize medical marijuana. In 2018, the Bahamas JNational Commission on Marijuana was tasked with examining the marijuana reform, and in early 2021 presented recommendations for the legalization of medical marijuana and decriminalization of possession of up to one ounce for personal use.
In May, 2021, Prime Minister Minnis stated that the Medicinal Cannabis Bill has been revised to include the opening of medical cannabis dispensaries in addition to the establishment of a medicinal cannabis authority to oversee the cultivation, import, export, manufacturing, research and transport of cannabis.
The law will only allow the sale of cannabis for research or medicinal uses.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Illegal
Recreational cannabis is illegal in Barbados but in December, 2019 the Barbados Senate approved a law that lays the framework for a legal medical cannabis industry.
The Medical Cannabis Industry Bill provides for “the regulation of the handling of medicinal cannabis in Barbados,” as well as the issuing of licenses for the handling of medical cannabis and the establishment of a Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority, a Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Board, and a Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Appeals Tribunal.
A separate bill passed at the same time, the Sacramental Cannabis Bill, allows for adherents of the Rastafarian religion “to use cannabis as a sacrament in worship at a place of worship or at a public place, and for related purposes.”
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: decriminalized
In 2017, the government of Belize decriminalized the possession of up to ten grams of cannabis.
The country does not have a medical cannabis program, but in July, 2021, the Minister of New Growth Industries, Hon. Kareem Musa introduced a bill to legalize marijuana. The Proposed amendment to the Misuse of Drug Act, 103, would also establish the framework for licensing and registration of legal cannabis businesses.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Legal
Both medical and recreational cannabis are legal in Canada, which in 2018 became just the second country after Uruguay to legalize maiujana for recreational use.
The country has had a legal medical marijuana program since 2001.
Canadian law allows adults over 21 to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis and grow four plants per residence for personal use. The country also has a well established legal cannabis retail industry.
For more detailed information about the cannabis laws, see here.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Decriminalized
In 2018, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica decriminalized possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis for personal use.
The country does not have a legal medical cannabis program, but support for medical cannabis is reportedly very widespread among Costa Rica’s political leadership.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for medical and recreational purposes in Cuba, and offenders can face severe penalties.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Decriminalized
The government of the small island country of Dominica in 2020 passed a law to decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. In August, 2020, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that “the government will forge ahead” on founding a domestic marijuana industry. The country does not have a legal medical cannabis program.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Decriminalized
Cannabis is illegal for medical or recreational purposes in the Dominican Republic. Possession of less than 20 grams can result in a minimum sentence of six months in prison.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Both medical and recreational cannabis are illegal in El Salvador, and offenders can face stiff penalties if caught.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for medical or recreational use in Greenland. A 2018 study reported that Greenland “has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world,” and that in 2002, 44.1 percent of male and 47 percent of 15-year-olds had used cannabis.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for medical or recreational use in Grenada, but in March 2021 the Agriculture Minister stated that the country is compiling legislation to decriminalize the personal use of marijuana. This follows an announcement by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchll in late 2020 that the country will develop a local model for cultivation, distribution, supply and use of marijuana – as well as decriminalization or legalization of the plant.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for recreational or medical use in Guatemala, though there has been some support for legalization among the political leadership in recent years. In 2014 for instance, then-president Otto Perez Molina stated that the country could legalize marijuan, adding that “it’s clear how marijuana doesn’t cause the same level of addiction or damage to health [as cocaine and heroin], and these are steps we’re taking in the right path.”
In addition, in 2016, Congressman Alvaro Velasquez introduced a bill to regulate both recreational and medicinal cannabis.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for recreational or medicinal use in Haiti. In 2018 however, Haitian leaders were among those from 19 Caribbean countries that expressed intent to “review marijuana’s current status with a view to reclassification.”
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for recreational or medicinal use in Honduras.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Largely decriminalized
Cannabis is legal for medical use and largely decriminalized for recreational use in Jamaica, one of the global centers of marijuana culture. In 2015, the country passed legislation to decriminalize the possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana. The plant is also legal for use by practitioners of the rastafarian religion. The law also now allows the cultivation of up to five plants.
Jamaica is also known for the ease and accessibility of its medical cannabis program. Patients can easily attain access by way of a prescription from a foreign or local doctor, or at a dispensary with an on-site doctor. Tourists and locals can easily attain a prescription and purchase cannabis at these dispensaries. There is also a burgeoning, legal cannabis tourism industry in the country.
For more detailed information about the cannabis laws, see here.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Decriminalized (expected to be legal imminently)
In March, 2021, Mexican lawmakers approved a law to legalize recreational cannabis, and the country could soon become one of the world’s largest cannabis markets. The move follows a ruling by the country’s supreme court in 2018 which stated that a ban on recreational cannabis was unconstitutional.
In 2009, the government decriminalized possession of up to 5 grams of cannabis.
Medical cannabis is legal in the country under the 2017 decree to “regulate the medicinal use of the pharmacological derivatives of cannabis sativa.” The country is still working out the specifics of the medical cannabis program.
For more detailed information about the cannabis laws, see here.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for recreational or medicinal use in Nicaragua.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for recreational or medicinal use in Panama. In 2018 though, lawmakers introduced a bill to legalize the consumption of cannabis for medical purposes. Debate over the bill continued into 2019 as well.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in Puerto Rico, but in 2015 the country passed a law legalizing medical marijuana and the first local medical dispensaries opened in January 2017. The law allows the medical use of flower, cream, drops, pills, and tinctures, but smoking medicinal cannabis is not approved. Cultivation for personal use is also still illegal on the island. In addition, a law signed in August, 2021 bans employment discrimination against medical cannabis patients.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Decriminalized
In 2019 a court decision ruled that adults in Saint Kitts and Nevis can legally consume marijuana in their homes, and that practitioners of the Rastafarian religion can use marijuana in religious ceremonies. In February, 2020, legislators approved legislation to establish a local medicinal cannabis authority, expunge previous cannabis convictions, and increase the amount of cannabis that can be legally possessed for personal use to 15 grams. It remains illegal to publicly consume cannabis.
- Medical: Illegal
- Recreational: Illegal
Cannabis remains illegal for medicinal or recreational purposes in Saint Lucia, though in 2019 Prime Minister Allen Chastanet announced that the country will decriminalize cannabis.In March, 2021, governor-general of Saint Licia, Sir Emamaneul Cenac stated that “ my government will propose legislation to govern the cannabis industry,” including a cannabis bill to establish an authority for licensing the possession, supply and use of cannabis for industrial, medicinal, therapeutic, or scientific purposes.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Saint Lucia Cannabis Commission has examined and made recommendations on the laws and regulations on cannabis.
- Medical: Legal
- Recreational: Decriminalized
In 2018, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines decriminalized cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. Following amendments made to the national drug laws in 2019, possession of up to two ounces of cannabis is now a ticketable offense and does not result in arrest or imprisonment.
The country issued its first medical cannabis licenses in July, 2019 and approved the first medical cannabis dispensary in September, 2020. The country has also enacted an amnesty program for illicit growers who want to join the legal cultivation industry. Local cannabis growers also made headlines in April, 2021, when the La Soufriere volcano eruption devastated much of the local cannabis industry.
- Medical: Illegal (legalization pending)
- Recreational: Decriminalized
Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago in December, 2019 announced the decriminalization of possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis following an amendment to the country’s drug laws. The amendment also allows the cultivation of up to 4 cannabis plants and the possession of up to 5 grams of cannabis resin. It is still illegal to consume cannabis in public. In 2019, a law to establish a legal medical marijuana industry in the country was passed in the ?House of Representatives.
- Medical: Illegal on federal level
- Recreational: Illegal on federal level
Cannabis remains illegal for medical or recreational use on the federal level in the United States. Nonetheless, since California passed a medical marijuana bill in the mid-1990s, 35 other states and four territories (and the District of Columbia) have approved the use of medical marjuana and have set up state-run medical cannabis programs.
Cannabis is currently legal for recreational use in 18 states across the country, including the entire West Coast, as well as in the District of Columbia and Guam.
