Cannabis in Greece

Greece legalized medical cannabis in 2017 and subsequently established a framework for cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes. The country's Mediterranean climate, similar to other successful cannabis cultivation regions, makes it attractive for large-scale production facilities. The Greek government has promoted cannabis cultivation as an economic development opportunity, particularly for agricultural regions.

The regulatory framework permits the cultivation of medical cannabis under license from the Greek government, with products intended primarily for export to other European markets. Several international cannabis companies have obtained Greek cultivation licenses, though the pace of actual facility development and production has been slower than initially anticipated due to bureaucratic delays and regulatory complexity.

Patient access to medical cannabis within Greece has been limited despite legalization. The domestic medical market is small, with relatively few physicians prescribing cannabis and limited product availability through pharmacies. The focus of Greece's cannabis industry has been primarily on cultivation for export rather than serving the domestic patient population.

Greece also decriminalized simple cannabis possession in 2017 by reducing penalties and introducing diversion programs as alternatives to criminal prosecution. This broader reform package, combined with the medical and cultivation frameworks, represented a significant shift in Greek cannabis policy, though recreational legalization remains off the political agenda.