Is cannabis legal in Greece?

The short answer: no, there is no legal cannabis in Greece, except by medical prescription. And the trend is not toward liberalization, as the country banned even the sale of CBD flowers in 2026. Many travelers imagine a relaxed vibe on the islands, but the legal reality is much stricter. At Tealer420, we prefer to give you the real risks before your departure. Here is what the law on cannabis in Greece says, and how it applies to tourists.

If you are going to Greece this summer

This is the part that directly concerns most of our readers. Greece provides zero tolerance for tourists. Even a joint can lead you before a court, often in expedited proceedings, with a sentence frequently accompanied by a suspended sentence.

• On islands like Mykonos or Ios, checks are frequent in summer.
• CBD flowers can no longer be bought locally since May 2026: do not bring any.
• Foreign medical cannabis products cannot be imported, even with a prescription.
• Behind the wheel, the new traffic code significantly increases penalties for driving under the influence of drugs.

Simply put, being on vacation does not change your legal status. And upon your return, the smallest amount becomes an offense again in France, where we had already detailed the regime of the fixed fine.

Legal cannabis in Greece: what a consumer risks

The reference text is Article 29 of Law 4139/2013. It punishes use, possession for personal use, and the cultivation of a few plants for oneself with up to 5 months in prison.

In practice, the Greek system is more lenient than this figure suggests:

• the sentence is often given with a stay of execution or replaced by a treatment program;
• the court may dismiss the case if the act is judged to be occasional and unlikely to be repeated.

But watch out for the trap: there is no numerical threshold. The judge decides whether the quantity is justified solely by personal use, looking at the type of product, its purity, frequency, and daily dose. And public use is considered more severely.

Trafficking, punished very heavily

As soon as sales are involved, the scale changes completely. Article 20 of the same law provides for at least 8 years in prison, which can go up to 20 years, and a fine of up to 300,000 euros.

Aggravated trafficking, for example near a school, as part of a criminal organization, or by a civil servant, is punishable by at least 10 years in prison and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 euros. This is far from a Portuguese-style decriminalization model: here, the user benefits from a certain leniency, but the supply chain is prosecuted without concession. To see the difference, take a look at our fact sheet on Portugal.

The 2026 turning point on hemp

Even the CBD market has been caught up. Law 5302/2026, published on May 20, 2026, prohibits the retail sale, circulation, and distribution to consumers of dried hemp flowers, with or without THC. The EOF announced on May 22 an immediate application and inspections in stores as well as online.

The text was highly contested: about half of the 845 comments in the public consultation focused on its cannabis articles, mostly against it. However, CBD oils and cosmetics remain available.

100% Greek medical cannabis

Medical cannabis was legalized in June 2017, with the announcement by Alexis Tsipras and the reclassification of the plant from Schedule A to Schedule D. Law 4523/2018 then organized cultivation and production.

However, it took until February 19, 2024 for the first pharmacy distributions to occur, almost 7 years later. Access remains limited to prescriptions from specialists (anesthesiology, neurology, oncology, infectious diseases, rheumatology), after the failure of conventional treatments, without reimbursement. And since Law 4864/2021, every product sold must be manufactured in Greece.

Key Takeaways

Greece remains a country where recreational cannabis is illegal, with relatively lenient judicial treatment for the user but very heavy penalties for sales. The 2026 tightening on CBD flowers confirms that the country is not following the trajectory of its most open European neighbors.

For a traveler, the message is simple: nothing is tolerated, the islands are patrolled in summer, and no form of flower, even without THC, should be in your suitcase.

Informative article, updated as of September 24, 2026. Sources: Greek law 4139/2013 (Articles 20 and 29), Law 5302/2026, EOF press release of May 22, 2026, Law 4523/2018, Law 4864/2021, Law 5209/2025 on road traffic. It does not constitute legal advice and legislation is subject to change. For ages 18+ only. Compliant with current European legislation (< 0.3% THC). Consumption of illicit cannabis remains prohibited in France.