Cannabis laws in Romania

Medical: legal, limited
Recreational: illegal

Recreational cannabis is illegal in Romania. The country technically legalized medical cannabis with less than 0.2% THC in 2013 but did not establish a national program. Another draft law was introduced in 2019 to expand the program; as of 2022, it was still in draft in a chamber of government.

Possible penalties

Despite the historical use of cannabis in Romania, the plant has been illegal since 1928. Punishment for drug possession varies by the type of drug in question, but cannabis is considered a “high-risk drug” and possession carries steep penalties, including six months to three years in jail. People who are caught with cannabis for personal use can avoid jail time by participating in an “integrated assistance program.” Selling cannabis can mean jail time of up to 12 years.

There are organizations working to decriminalize the plant since legalization doesn’t seem to be on the horizon any time soon.

Medical cannabis in Romania

Romania technically legalized medical cannabis back in 2013. Patients can be prescribed medical marijuana in the form of pharmaceuticals, like Sativex. Growing, importing, and selling medical marijuana is legal under government control. However, this legalization is a technicality, as there is no established medical program for patients to join.

In 2019, a new draft law for medical marijuana was introduced in the Romanian Parliament that would expand the medical program and allow terminally ill patients to access cannabis flower, extracts, resin, and tinctures, with a maximum THC level of 20%. As of April 2022, the law is still in draft in the Chamber of Deputies.

CBD regulations

Industrial hemp is a staple crop of Romania and is cultivated for use in fibers, grains, seeds, and oil. CBD is legal as long as it contains less than 0.2% THC. While CBD flower isn’t available, you can find CBD products like topicals for sale.

As a member of the EU, Romania is beholden to the 2020 EU Court ruling that determined CBD and its products are not narcotics, so “a country of the European Union cannot prohibit the marketing of cannabidiol legally produced in another member state.”

Can you grow your own weed?

No, home grow is not legal in Romania. Farmers can grow industrial hemp as long as they have authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.