# Where is the world is pot legal to grow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2008, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607 "2008-06-03T10:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/21 "2008-06-05T03:38:39Z")
It’s legal to grow in Canada, if you adhere to a [very narrow set of medical guidelines](http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/about-apropos/faq-eng.php). You have to get a license to possess it and a different license to grow it. Both licenses are obtained from Health Canada on recommendation from your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/22 "2008-06-05T11:28:47Z")
I don’t know if it’s legal, but it’s certainly grown in a big way in Morocco. A few years ago I visited a town called [Chefchaouen](http://wikitravel.org/en/Chefchaouen) in the Rif Mountains (beautiful place BTW), and if you walked five minutes out of town into the hills you’d find yourself amid vast fields full of marijuana plants. We’d hired a guide to take us into the mountains, and as we were walking along the path, I glanced at the big lush green field beside us. Then I bent down and took a closer look at the plants. I looked at the guide and asked “Is that…?” “_Kif_,” he said. Hashish. As if it was the most natural thing in the world to be wandering through acres of weed. 🙂 I’ve got some pictures somewhere, it was quite a sight. A Google Image search turned up a page with some not-terribly-good [photos](http://joaoleitao.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/marijuana-fields-marijuana-plantations-in-the-mountains-cannabis-rif-mountains-northern-morocco/), but it gives you an idea. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/23 "2008-06-05T11:31:58Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] I don’t think so. Antarctica is entirely the territory of one country or another, and that country’s laws will very likely apply. [/QUOTE] No it isn’t. There are various “claims”, many of which overlap, but they are only recognised by the other countries doing the claiming. BTW, going back to Morocco, it seems it is [illegal to grow](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6426799.stm), and the authorities claim to be clamping down on it. Well I can only say that I didn’t see much clamping down going on. These fields were less than a mile from the town, in plain view. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/24 "2008-06-05T11:51:50Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] No it isn’t. There are various “claims”, many of which overlap, but they are only recognised by the other countries doing the claiming. [/QUOTE] How much good is that going to do you if you are caught? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/25 "2008-06-05T12:30:45Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] How much good is that going to do you if you are caught? [/QUOTE] Not much, I guess. I’d still be facing a spell in the cooler. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/26 "2008-06-05T21:30:35Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] No it isn’t. There are various “claims”, many of which overlap, but they are only recognised by the other countries doing the claiming. [/QUOTE] Plus, there really IS a 60-degree slice that is not covered by any claim, recognised or otherwise… [cite (only wiki though)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica#Politics). And as for the ‘if you get caught’ line… well, sure. _If_. Seems to me the chances of someone stumbling across your patch are… well, about the same as the chances of being able to grow anything there in the first place! And the chances of whoever becomes aware of it, being arsed enough to do anything about it, only slightly higher I’d have thought. They’d be pretty chilled, really. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/27 "2008-06-05T21:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Buttons] I’m a big old pothead myself, but I’m pretty sure you can grow it relatively safely in any 3rd world country. Thai Sticks… [/QUOTE] 1. It’s utterly illegal in Thailand; 2. Thailand isn’t a 3rd world country. When I went to Nepal, it was growing everywhere. Between the cracks in the pavements, in the hedgerows. I don’t see how you can illegalise a (literal) weed. However, it is legal to consume only for three days at Holi Festival. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/28 "2008-06-06T02:21:37Z")
According to [wikipedia’s list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_country), regarding Bangladesh, “Currently there are no laws relating to cannabis (citation needed).” There may be truth to that, but I’m wary of the absoluteness of the statment. No laws? Absolutely no laws? Like, I could grow so much pot that I could build a church out of it and sell the remainder to toddlers? ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/29 "2008-06-06T03:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=aldiboronti] I don’t think it’s legal anywhere in the world. Legalization of cannabis is complicated by the fact that there are UN drug treaties which all member nations have signed up to. Individual nations can relax the laws but they couldn’t legalize without abrogating those treaties. [/QUOTE] It’s certainly ‘legal’ in Amsterdam. Go in to any ‘coffee shop’ and ask for their menu, and choose from many different varieties of pot. Go through the market, pick up a bouquet of tulips, or perhaps some cannabis seeds to plant for yourself. I did not partake when I was in Amsterdam, but considering the 20-30 shops where it was openly available for sale, I’m pretty sure that counts. 🙂 The Wikipedia article says that it’s still technically illegal, but considering the open sale of pot is not prosecuted or pursued, it’s like the blue laws in many towns in the US. (where it’s technically illegal to wear patent leather shoes and the like). Do a quick google search, and you’ll get the Amsterdam Coffee Shop directory, listing all locations where marijuana is sold in the city. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/30 "2008-06-06T04:46:51Z")
[QUOTE=Jman] It’s certainly ‘legal’ in Amsterdam. Go in to any ‘coffee shop’ and ask for their menu, and choose from many different varieties of pot. Go through the market, pick up a bouquet of tulips, or perhaps some cannabis seeds to plant for yourself. I did not partake when I was in Amsterdam, but considering the 20-30 shops where it was openly available for sale, I’m pretty sure that counts. 🙂 The Wikipedia article says that it’s still technically illegal, but considering the open sale of pot is not prosecuted or pursued, it’s like the blue laws in many towns in the US. (where it’s technically illegal to wear patent leather shoes and the like). Do a quick google search, and you’ll get the Amsterdam Coffee Shop directory, listing all locations where marijuana is sold in the city. [/QUOTE] Get caught with a large amount of marijuana in Holland and you’ll soon find that it is still illegal. The laws have been relaxed, not abolished. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/31 "2008-06-06T04:47:24Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] 1. It’s utterly illegal in Thailand; 2. Thailand isn’t a 3rd world country. When I went to Nepal, it was growing everywhere. Between the cracks in the pavements, in the hedgerows. I don’t see how you can illegalise a (literal) weed. However, it is legal to consume only for three days at Holi Festival. [/QUOTE] Correct. It is completely illegal in Thailand. Not that that stops people, but you can get popped for it. And if you’re a farang (Westerner), the cops, rather than look the other way, often see it as an opportunity to extort a bribe from you, which you WILL pay unless you have an overwhelming desire to see the inside of a Thai jail for an extended stay. I do not know of any Third World country where it is not illegal on the books, at least not in Southeast Asia. Even in Nepal, it may grow wild in some areas, but it is illegal to sell and possess. I don’t know about that particular festival, but we were always being offered it on the sly in Kathmandu and always declined. A lot of these people selling will also turn you in to the cops afterward. In Thailand, I know they get a reward AND some of the dope back! This is an especially bad scam among tuktuk drivers in Chiang Mai. (Tuktuks are motorized three-wheel taxis.) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/32 "2008-06-06T08:24:24Z")
I just dug out a couple of photos I took in Chefchaouen. [Growing like, well, a weed.](http://i27.tinypic.com/hwg02s.jpg) [If the police wanted to bust the guy growing it, they wouldn’t have to look too hard.](http://i28.tinypic.com/2w1tutt.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/33 "2008-06-07T04:48:08Z")
I heard that it was legal in either Cambodia or Laos. I read this in a Let’s Go! book for Southeast Asia. They also stated that you could pick up a kilo for a buck. FWIW, Rob ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/34 "2008-06-07T05:39:06Z")
[Cambodia](http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1403.html) > [@](#): > > With a marijuana “problem”, confined to a few over-indulgent foreigners, what could have prompted the Cambodian Government to criminalize marijuana in December 1996? The answer lies in US pressure on Cambodia. Dependent on foreign aid for roughly 40% of its budget, Cambodia is vulnerable to threats of aid cutoff. [Laos](http://www.frommers.com/destinations/laos/2411020157.html) > [@](#): > > Opium is openly grown in northeast Laos and is easily available, as is marijuana. Neither is legal, and although you might see many travelers indulging, it is highly recommended that you don’t. You could face high fines or jail if you’re caught. Travellers can be easily misled by the sight of stalls openly selling marijuana. Doesn’t mean the police can’t bust you in a heartbeat if they have a mind to. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/35 "2008-06-07T07:36:45Z")
[QUOTE=Rhythmdvl] How does that work? I thought you needed a male and a female to get product. Do you have to coordinate with your kind neighbors? Or is it a loophole that’s not really a loophole? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Musicat] You need a male & female to get _seeds,_ but that’s usually not the primary desired outcome of pot growing. They grow just fine without fertilization; in fact, an unfertilized female plant will produce [sensimilla,](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sensimilla) or enhanced buds. They theory is they strive more. At least that’s what I’ve heard. 😉 [/QUOTE] Yup. Unfertilized females won’t have to spend energy growing flowers and seeds, which = more of that good sticky icky. Marijuana plants will actually “herm” when it feels like its in danger (not enough nutrition/water etc) and grow both male and female organs. If these are left around, the plant will fertilize itself and grow seeds, which is usually the cause of the seeds you find in cheap weed. How do pot growers get around the problem of sustainability? They breed until they find the perfect female specimen, take good care of it, and make clones of it from cuttings. In my grandmothers generation, some people (in Korea) had poppies growing in their back yard as home medicine–sadly not the case anymore. Korea is ridiculously strict with drugs, especially Marijuana (they class Marijuana as “hard” drugs) and yet ridiculously loose with smoking regulations (something like 50% of highschoolers smoke cigarettes). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607/36 "2008-06-07T14:16:54Z")
[QUOTE=aldiboronti] Travellers can be easily misled by the sight of stalls openly selling marijuana. Doesn’t mean the police can’t bust you in a heartbeat if they have a mind to. [/QUOTE] Indeed. In addition to the tuktuk-driver drug scam in Chiang Mai up in our North, mentioned earlier above, I’ve heard of certain areas of Laos that are off the beaten path and thus attracts a backpacker crowd, where the police have made a small cottage industry out of busting the tourists for hash or pot while leaving the locals alone. It’s best not to get lulled into a false sense of security when on the road. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-world-is-pot-legal-to-grow/451607.md?page=1)