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

Lithuania has softened the penalties for possessing a small amount, but it has done so in a way that can be confusing for travelers. The same amount within the country results in a misdemeanor, while crossing the border turns it into a crime.

There is also a provision here that is almost nowhere else: exemption from liability for a person who voluntarily seeks help. Below is what follows from the text of the Lithuanian Penal Code.

Legal status checked on September 5, 2026, in the consolidated text of the code from the legal information system of the Lithuanian Seimas. This is a description of the regulations, not legal advice.

Is possession of marijuana in Lithuania punishable?

Yes, but the Lithuanian code divides it into two degrees, and with a smaller amount, it shifts from a crime to a criminal misdemeanor. The basic provision covers the illegal production, processing, acquisition, storage, transport, and distribution of narcotic substances without intent to sell or otherwise distribute. The provision lists all these activities in one breath.

The catalog of penalties is wide. Public works, fines, restrictions on freedom, arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years are possible, and the choice is up to the court.

The second paragraph concerns the same acts with a small amount and directly calls them a criminal misdemeanor. The possibility of imprisonment disappears from the catalog of penalties, so the difference is not cosmetic.

However, the condition is double, and it is easy to forget about it. It must be a small amount and at the same time a lack of intent to sell or otherwise distribute, as the mere intent removes the act from this provision.

This places Lithuania in the group of countries with partial decriminalization. How this boundary looks among neighbors is shown by our map of marijuana legality.

It is worth adding that a criminal misdemeanor in Lithuania is not the same as an administrative offense. It remains a category of criminal law, only with a narrower catalog of sanctions.

How much marijuana is allowed in Lithuania?

The code operates with three sizes, namely a small amount, a large amount, and a very large amount, but none of them is expressed in grams. The numerical thresholds are set by an executive act, which we have not read, so we do not provide any weight here. The code describes only the consequences, leaving the actual numbers elsewhere.

The legal effect of each of these sizes is, however, unequivocal and stated directly. A small amount without intent to distribute is a criminal misdemeanor without imprisonment, which is the mildest category in the entire provision.

A large amount with intent to distribute moves the case to a range of eight to ten years of imprisonment. This is a jump of several levels at once compared to the basic category.

A very large amount raises the brackets even higher, from ten to fifteen years. The Lithuanian scale is therefore very steep, and the difference between its ends is several years.

The practical conclusion is that the Lithuanian threshold cannot be checked in the code. The number exists, but it is in a different act, and without it, the code itself only speaks of the consequences.

Without this act, the code does not answer the question of where each of these categories begins. It precisely answers the question of what is associated with it.

What are the consequences of exceeding the threshold in Lithuania?

Without intent to distribute, public works, fines, restrictions on freedom, arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years are possible, and with a small amount, the same applies except for imprisonment. This is the lowest level of the entire structure. The choice of sanctions from this catalog is up to the court in each case, not the prosecuting authority.

With intent to sell or otherwise distribute, as well as for mere distribution, the penalty ranges from two to eight years. With a large amount, the brackets increase to a range of eight to ten years, and with a very large amount, from ten to fifteen.

A legal entity is also liable, which is not a rule in this context. The code provides for its liability alongside that of the individual, not instead of it.

However, the most interesting is the third paragraph of the basic provision. A person who voluntarily approached a healthcare facility for medical help or reported to a state institution to surrender substances is exempt from criminal liability.

The exemption covers production, acquisition, and storage without intent to distribute. This provision is designed so that the fear of punishment does not prevent seeking help in case of poisoning.

A legal entity is liable alongside the individual, not instead of them.

Does Lithuania have a medical marijuana program?

The Penal Code does not create a program, and we have not read Lithuanian departmental sources, as they denied access. The national collection of legal acts lists a ban for machines in a file for robots, and the drug control department’s service refused access. Both of these sources could not be opened despite several attempts from different sides.

However, one approval operates here independently of Lithuanian law. A permit for the circulation of a drug containing cannabidiol was issued centrally in September 2019, so it also covers Lithuania, and the preparation has orphan drug status.

The scope of this permit is determined by indications, not the substance itself. There are two indications. The first is seizures in Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, where the drug is administered with clobazam from the second year of life.

However, from the approval itself, it does not follow that the drug is available in Lithuanian pharmacies. The introduction to sale and reimbursement is decided by the responsible entity and national decisions, and we have not checked those for Lithuania.

For the patient, this means that questions about the Lithuanian access pathway should be asked on-site. This material describes criminal liability, not the conditions for issuing prescriptions.

Can I bring cannabis medicine into Lithuania?

Lithuania has a separate crime of smuggling, starting from a small amount, which is the most important sentence of this entire entry for travelers. Transport across the border does not benefit from the milder qualification provided for possession within the country. The qualification changes here simply by crossing the state border.

The provision covers anyone who, without presenting the items for customs control or otherwise avoiding it, or without permission, transported or sent a small amount of narcotic substances across the state border without intent to distribute.

This carries a fine, restriction of freedom, arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years. The catalog is the same as for basic possession, but the act does not fall into the category of a misdemeanor.

The difference is therefore fundamental and arises solely from crossing the border. The same amount, stored in the country, would be a criminal misdemeanor without the possibility of imprisonment.

For a person returning from a country with milder regulations, the conclusion is unequivocal. There is no safe amount when crossing the border, as the smuggling provision does not recognize the category of a minor offense.

Postal shipments are treated the same as personal transport.

Frequently asked questions

How much marijuana is allowed in Lithuania?

The code does not specify a number. It operates with the concepts of small, large, and very large amounts, and the numerical thresholds are set by an executive act, which we have not read, so we do not provide any weight.

Is possession of marijuana in Lithuania a crime?

With a small amount and without intent to sell or otherwise distribute, the code calls this act a criminal misdemeanor, from which the possibility of imprisonment disappears. In other cases, it is a crime.

What are the consequences of transporting marijuana across the Lithuanian border?

A separate provision on smuggling already covers a small amount without intent to distribute and provides for a fine, restriction of freedom, arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years. The act does not fall into the category of a misdemeanor.

Can I avoid penalty in Lithuania by seeking help?

Yes. A person who voluntarily approached a healthcare facility for medical help or reported to a state institution to surrender substances is exempt from criminal liability for their production, acquisition, and storage.

What penalties are there in Lithuania for marijuana trade?

For sale or other distribution, from two to eight years, with a large amount from eight to ten years, and with a very large amount from ten to fifteen. A legal entity is also liable.

Does Lithuania have a medical marijuana program?

The Penal Code does not create it, and we have not read Lithuanian departmental sources, as they deny access to machines. However, the EU approval for a drug containing cannabidiol, issued centrally in 2019, is in effect.

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 decisions, consult a lawyer or current legal acts.

Author: Michał Waluk