Cannabis Laws in Greece

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check current rules with official sources or a lawyer.

Recreational use and possession

Cannabis is classified as a controlled narcotic under Law 4139/2013, which makes possession, purchase, and cultivation for personal use criminal offenses. Strong evidence^[1]

Penalties vary by quantity and circumstance:

• Small personal-use quantities are typically prosecuted as misdemeanors rather than felonies. Courts have discretion to impose suspended sentences, treatment-focused diversion, or reduced jail time, especially for first-time offenders. Strong evidence^[1]
• 'Addict' status (defined in law as dependence on cannabis) triggers reduced penalties and a presumption of treatment referral over imprisonment. Strong evidence^[1]
• Any cultivation—even a single plant for personal use—is still a criminal offense, though sentencing is discretionary. Strong evidence^[1]
• Trafficking, distribution, and cultivation in significant quantities carry felony charges with multi-year imprisonment, with sentences increasing for aggravating factors (involvement of minors, organized crime context, large-scale operations). Strong evidence^[1]

Greece processes cannabis offenses through its criminal courts rather than as administrative violations. While practical outcomes for small personal possession can be lenient, no fine-only administrative model exists as in some neighboring EU jurisdictions. Strong evidence^[1]

Medical cannabis

In June 2017, Greece announced legalization of medical cannabis, and the framework was formalized in Law 4523/2018. Strong evidence^[2][3] This law permits licensed production and processing of cannabis for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes.

Legal access and production:

• Patients can obtain cannabis-based medicines through prescription from a licensed Greek physician. Strong evidence^[2]
• Domestic and international companies can apply for cultivation and processing licenses from Greek authorities; several joint ventures began operations after 2018. Strong evidence^[2]
• Finished medical cannabis products are regulated by the National Organization for Medicines (EOF). Strong evidence^[2]
• Greece has emerged as a small but growing EU source for medical cannabis exports, though volumes remain modest. Weak / limited^[4]

Important caveats for travelers:

Foreign prescriptions are not automatically recognized in Greece. Patients traveling with medical cannabis from another country should not assume their home-country authorization will shield them from Greek law. Instead, consult a Greek attorney before travel and consider obtaining a Schengen Article 75 certificate if eligible as an EU patient. Greek customs and police will not accept foreign prescriptions alone as justification.

CBD and industrial hemp

Greece follows the EU framework for industrial hemp production: cultivation of approved varieties with THC content below 0.2% is legal. Strong evidence^[5]

CBD and hemp-derived products:

• CBD oils, cosmetics, and compliant extracts are legally sold in Greece, provided they are derived from authorized low-THC hemp varieties and do not exceed THC limits. Strong evidence^[5]
• Novel food rules (EU Regulation 2015/2283) apply to CBD ingestibles across the EU, including Greece. Products making health claims or used as food supplements may require regulatory authorization. Strong evidence^[5]

Gray zones and enforcement:

• Hemp flower and 'CBD flower' occupy uncertain legal territory. While compliant low-THC flower is openly sold in some Greek retailers, enforcement has been inconsistent. Police can still stop and inspect flower material that resembles cannabis, and possession can trigger legal attention regardless of THC content. Weak / limited^[4]
• Synthetic cannabinoids (HHC, delta-8, delta-10, etc.) have been subject to tightening EU restrictions and are increasingly banned or controlled in individual member states. Check current Greek status before importing or selling.

Driving

Greece enforces drug-driving laws under its Highway Code (Law 2696/1999 as amended). Driving under the influence of cannabis results in fines, license suspension, and potential criminal liability if impairment causes accidents or harm. Strong evidence^[6]

Testing and limits:

• Roadside testing is conducted via saliva samples. Strong evidence^[6]
• Greece does not publish a per se THC blood threshold analogous to the alcohol BAC limit (0.5 mg/L in Greece). Enforcement is based on detected drug presence and observed impairment. Strong evidence^[6]
• Medical cannabis patients are not exempt from driving-under-influence laws; they remain subject to the same standards.

Medical patients should be aware that cannabis use, even with a valid prescription, can result in drug-driving charges if police observe or test positive for impairment.

Practical notes for travelers

Do not assume tourist tolerance. Greek law enforcement prosecutes cannabis offenses against both citizens and foreign nationals. Embassy or consular assistance in drug cases is typically limited.

• Border and airport checks: Drug-detection dogs are routinely deployed at airports and ferry terminals, particularly on routes from the Netherlands, Spain, and Albania.
• No coffeeshops or retail THC sales. Any shop openly selling THC cannabis in Greece is operating illegally and can be raided.
• Trafficking across borders is a felony. Importing cannabis into Greece from any source, including Albania, is prosecuted as drug trafficking regardless of quantity.
• Medical patients traveling within the EU: Carry your prescription, pharmacy documentation, and—if eligible—a Schengen Article 75 certificate. Verify acceptance with Greek authorities before travel; a valid prescription from another EU member state does not automatically authorize possession in Greece.
• CBD products: Low-THC, compliant hemp products are legal but should include documentation of THC compliance. Mislabeled or untested CBD products may not be accepted.

Recent changes and outlook

The most significant reform in the past decade was the 2017–2018 establishment of the medical cannabis framework under Law 4523/2018. Strong evidence^[2][3] Since then, Greece has issued cultivation and processing licenses to a growing number of companies, positioning itself as a potential EU source for medical cannabis.

Recreational legalization:

There has been no serious legislative movement toward recreational legalization as of October 2026. While public debate on cannabis reform occurs in Greek media and civil society, major political parties have not tabled legalization bills. Periodic discussion of Law 4139/2013 reform exists, but no imminent changes are anticipated.

Information last verified: October 2026. Cannabis law in Greece can change through legislative or regulatory updates. Always consult current Greek government sources and a licensed Greek attorney for specific legal situations.

This article is not legal advice.

Sources

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