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Is weed legal in Norway?

The ban, the penalty and where the drug reform stands.

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Short answer

Cannabis is illegal in Norway, and using or possessing it can be punished with a fine or up to six months in prison. Parliament adopted a drug reform in June 2025, but it has not entered into force yet. Under the reform, adults caught with small amounts for personal use would usually get a simplified fine, but cannabis stays illegal.

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Why

  1. Section 24 of the Medicines Act (legemiddelloven) bans possessing or using narcotics without lawful access, and section 31 sets the penalty at a fine, up to six months in prison, or both.
  2. Helsedirektoratet states that both cannabis and THC, its main psychoactive substance, are defined as prohibited narcotics.
  3. When the government sent the rules for simplified fines out for consultation in June 2026, it stated that all handling of narcotics will remain a criminal offence.

Details

The consultation on the simplified fines closed on 1 October 2026, and on 15 October 2026 the government still listed the case as under consideration. Under the proposal, people under 18 would not be given a simplified fine. Cannabis-based medicines can only be prescribed by doctors who meet special conditions set by Helsedirektoratet.

Tip

If you use a prescribed cannabis-based medicine at home, check the rules of the Norwegian Medical Products Agency (DMP) before you travel and carry your doctor's documentation.

What may differ

Visitors without a Norwegian address may bring medicines that contain narcotic substances for up to 30 days' use, and residents of another Schengen country can use a Schengen certificate as documentation. Prescriptions for addictive medicines (groups A and B) issued abroad are not valid in Norway.

Common misconception

The drug reform has made cannabis legal or decriminalised in Norway.

What actually happens

The law changes adopted in June 2025 have not entered into force, and the government has stated that all handling of narcotics will remain a criminal offence. The reform changes the usual penalty for small amounts, not the ban.

People also ask

  • Is marijuana legal in Norway?
  • Is cannabis legal in Norway?
  • Can you smoke weed in Norway?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Norwegian Government (regjeringen.no) before you travel.

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