Marijuana in Finland: what is allowed and what are the consequences (2026)

Finland has two features that distinguish it from the rest of this overview. The mere use is a prohibited act mentioned by name, rather than being punished indirectly through possession.

The second feature is even more surprising: products containing cannabidiol are equated with prescription medications, and the authority issues decisions about them one after another. Below is what follows from the text of the penal code and from the communications of the Finnish Medicines Agency.

Legal status checked on September 5, 2026, in the consolidated text of the penal code and in communications from the Finnish Medicines Agency. This is a description of regulations, not legal advice.

Is possession of marijuana in Finland punishable?

Yes, but the law provides the consumer with a separate, clearly milder provision. The basic provision of the chapter on drug offenses includes possession and attempted acquisition of a narcotic subject to a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, without differentiating between substances, their quantities, or the circumstances under which the act occurred.

A separate provision distinguishes the crime of use. Anyone who unlawfully uses or possesses or attempts to acquire a small amount of a narcotic for personal use is subject to a fine or a penalty of up to six months imprisonment.

It is worth noting the word uses. The mere use is in Finland a prohibited act mentioned by name, rather than being punished indirectly by the fact that one cannot use something one does not possess.

This distinction has practical significance. The case can also begin when nothing is found on the detained person, as long as the examination shows that the substance was used.

The Finnish model is therefore more elaborate than it appears from the outside. How it compares to its neighbors is shown by our map of marijuana legality.

It is also worth adding that both provisions also cover attempted acquisition. Responsibility therefore begins earlier than in countries that only punish possession itself.

How much marijuana is allowed in Finland?

There is no number, and this is not a gap in our study. The law speaks of a small amount and does not express it anywhere in grams or plants, so the question of permissible weight has no numerical answer in the text of the provision. There is also no reference to an executive act.

The limit is determined by a comprehensive assessment. A separate provision requires considering the quantity and type of the substance, the situation of use, and other circumstances, and then asking whether the act as a whole is trivial.

This question about the whole is more important here than the amount itself. The same weight in a different situation may yield a different result, as the provision explicitly requires looking at the circumstances, not just at what was found.

In the case of a qualified offense, the law also does not provide a threshold. It speaks of a large amount or a particularly dangerous substance, leaving the assessment of what is large to the authority conducting the case.

The practical conclusion is that the Finnish threshold cannot be checked before leaving home. There is no number that could be compared with the weight, as the legislator deliberately did not provide it.

What are the consequences of exceeding the threshold in Finland?

For a drug offense, a fine or up to two years imprisonment is threatened, for mere use and possession of a small amount a fine or up to six months, and for preparation a fine or up to two years. The scale starts low and has a clearly defined consumer tier.

The qualified form ranges from one to ten years. It comes into play with a particularly dangerous substance, a large amount, aiming for significant benefit, acting in an organized group, causing serious danger to many people, or distributing among minors.

However, the most interesting is the provision on exemption. The prosecutor may refrain from prosecution, and the court from imposing a penalty, if the act assessed as a whole is trivial or if the suspect or perpetrator has reported for treatment.

The second condition is worth emphasizing here. It is not about any therapy, but about treatment approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, so the path is formal and verifiable.

This solution resembles the Hungarian one, although it is simpler than that. The Finnish provision does not require demonstrating six months of participation in the program, only the mere reporting for treatment.

Does Finland have a medical marijuana program?

The Finnish program is based on one registered drug and an exception for everything else. An oral spray with two extracts from hemp, one standardized for THC and the other for CBD, received permission in 2012 and went on sale a year later.

The indication is spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis, as an adjunct to other medications when they have not helped sufficiently. The scope is therefore narrow and does not cover a wide range of conditions.

The second hemp drug, with purified cannabidiol, received EU approval in 2019, but as of January 2020, the responsible entity had not introduced it for sale in Finland. This is a good illustration of the difference between admission and availability.

In addition, there is an exceptional path. In individual cases, when the registered drug has not yielded the expected treatment result, the attending physician may apply for a special permit to issue a hemp preparation without a marketing authorization.

The authority emphasizes an important point for the patient. The quality or evidence of the effectiveness and safety of such preparations has not been assessed or approved, even though the plants were grown and packaged according to recognized good practice principles.

Is it allowed to cultivate hemp for personal use in Finland?

The law mentions hemp by name, which is not a rule in this overview. Illegal cultivation or attempted cultivation of hemp for use as a narcotic, as a raw material for it, or for its production is a drug offense punishable by a fine or up to two years.

The placement of this provision is as important as its content. Cultivation stands in the same position as import and distribution, and not in the milder provision on use, so it does not benefit from the consumer tier of responsibility.

The difference in threat is fourfold. For use and a small amount, the penalty is up to six months, for cultivation up to two years, regardless of how many plants are growing.

The law does not provide any number of plants for cultivation. There is no threshold below which cultivation would be treated as a small amount for personal use.

However, the purpose is significant. The provision speaks of cultivation for use as a narcotic, so it is this that distinguishes it from cultivation conducted for other purposes based on separate provisions.

What is the status of CBD in Finland?

In Finland, a preparation containing cannabidiol is equated with a prescription drug, and the Finnish Medicines Agency decides on each product with a separate classification decision. This solution is different from most countries in this overview and is precisely what surprises travelers most often. The decision is made for a single product, not for a category.

The effect of the decision is final. Once it becomes legally binding, marketing the product is illegal, and it can no longer be sold in Finland. The authority has classified many CBD products in this way.

The reason is stated directly and is about safety, not formality. The composition of such products can be uncertain, and the preparations may contain THC, which is a substance under full control.

Importing a CBD product classified as a prescription drug is also prohibited. Ordering online or bringing it from travels therefore requires prior verification of the legality of the specific product.

EU regulations operate separately. Cannabinoid extracts and CBD food are new foods in the EU, not permitted without authorization, and cosmetics cannot contain CBD.

The practical advice is therefore to check the status of a specific product before traveling. Decisions concern individual products, not the entire category, so one oil may have a different status than another.

Frequently asked questions

How much marijuana can be possessed in Finland?

The law does not provide a number. It speaks of a small amount and requires assessing the quantity, type of substance, situation of use, and other circumstances, and then asking whether the act as a whole is trivial.

Is smoking marijuana in Finland punishable?

Yes. A separate provision covers unlawful use of a narcotic and possession or attempted acquisition of a small amount for personal use, with a penalty of a fine or up to six months imprisonment.

Can the penalty for possession be avoided in Finland?

The prosecutor may refrain from prosecution, and the court from imposing a penalty, if the act assessed as a whole is trivial or if the perpetrator has reported for treatment approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Is it allowed to cultivate hemp in Finland?

No. Illegal cultivation or attempted cultivation of hemp for use as a narcotic is a crime punishable by a fine or up to two years. Cultivation stands in the same provision as import and distribution.

Are CBD products legal in Finland?

A preparation containing cannabidiol is equated with a prescription drug there, and the Medicines Agency decides on each product with a separate decision. After it becomes legally binding, marketing and selling the product is illegal.

Can CBD oil be imported to Finland?

Importing a CBD product classified as a prescription drug is prohibited. Ordering online or bringing it from travels requires prior verification of the legality of the specific product.

Sources

This article is for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The legal status described in the article is valid as of the date of publication: regulations regarding cannabis may change. Before making a decision, consult a lawyer or current legal acts.

Author: Michał Waluk