Even in the most permissive destinations, there is a wide gap between what is legal and what is socially acceptable, and visitors are usually the ones who miss it.
The consistent rules across cultures: never around children, never in enclosed public spaces, never in a way that imposes the smell on people who did not choose it, and never on public transport. These hold even where possession is entirely lawful.
Residents of famously relaxed cities are frequently more discreet than visitors, and it is not coincidence. They live with the policy consequences of visible excess, and permissive cities have tightened rules more than once in direct response to tourist behaviour.
Practically: private accommodation with the owner’s agreement, low volume, and no announcement. That approach travels everywhere and creates friction nowhere.
Browse our full set of destination guides in the guides index, or check any country against the legality tracker.
What readers say
Good balanced write-up. Would have liked a bit more on CBD rules, but the legal summary matched what I was told on the ground.
Finally a site that explains the difference between decriminalised and legal properly. Saved me from a very expensive mistake at the airport.
Been using these guides for every trip this year. Straight facts, no hype, and the price ranges have been accurate everywhere I have checked them.
Checked three of these guides against local lawyers I know. The legal summaries hold up.
Used this to plan a three-country trip. Comparing the pages side by side made the differences obvious.
I read the etiquette section before arriving and it was spot on. Locals really are more discreet than visitors expect.
