Is Weed Legal in Belgium?

Recreational cannabis remains illegal in Belgium under the Loi du 24 fevrier 1921 concernant le trafic des substances veneneuses (Narcotics Act of 24 February 1921) and the Royal Decree of 6 September 2017 regulating narcotic and psychotropic substances. Cannabis is classified as a Schedule IV substance, and cultivation, sale, transport, and import all carry criminal penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment depending on quantity and circumstances.

A Joint Directive issued by the Minister of Justice and the College of Prosecutors General in 2005, revised in 2015, established that possession by an adult of up to 3 grams of cannabis or one cultivated plant for personal use receives the lowest prosecution priority. Police typically issue a simplified report rather than detain the user, provided there are no aggravating circumstances such as use near a school, public nuisance, or possession by a minor. This tolerance policy is administrative discretion, not legalization. Public consumption, supply to others, and any quantity above the personal threshold remain fully prosecutable. Medical cannabis access is tightly limited. The Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP/AFMPS/FAGG) authorizes only Sativex for multiple sclerosis spasticity. A Royal Decree of 11 March 2019 permits pharmacists to prepare magistral cannabis preparations under strict conditions, with cannabis flower supplied through a state-controlled Cannabis Office.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.