Marijuana in Norway: what is allowed and what is at risk (2026)

Norway is sometimes described as a country that has decriminalized drugs. This is not true and requires clarification: the reform proposal was rejected by parliament, and the use and possession remain prohibited and punishable.

However, the practice of prosecution has changed very clearly, though unevenly for different groups. Below is what results from the study of the Norwegian public health institute.

Status checked on September 5, 2026. Norwegian services with texts of laws are closed to bots, so the material is based on the study of the public health institute. This is a description of regulations, not legal advice.

Is possession of marijuana in Norway punishable?

It is illegal and punishable. Non-medical use and possession of cannabis and cannabis products are prohibited by Norwegian law and are punishable, just like the sale, production, import, and storage of these substances. The same provision thus covers both the smoker and the seller, and only the practice of prosecution differentiates them.

Norway considered changing this state and got quite far in it. The drug reform proposal, which aimed to decriminalize the use of cannabis and other illegal narcotic substances, was put to a parliamentary vote.

However, it was rejected in June 2021. This clarification is more important for the Polish reader than the rest of this section, as Norway is often described as a country that has decriminalized drugs.

The formal legal status has therefore remained unchanged. However, the practice of prosecution has changed so much that for some individuals the effect is similar to decriminalization, which we discuss in the section on penalties.

The difference between the record and practice is greater here than in most countries in this comparison. How this boundary looks elsewhere is shown by our map of marijuana legality.

It is also worth noting that the study lists the sale, production, import, and storage side by side. The catalog of prohibited acts is therefore complete and does not contain an exception for the user.

How much marijuana is allowed in Norway?

The quantitative threshold is not provided in the study, and the texts of the laws, where it could be, could not be read. Norwegian legal services are closed to bots: one issues a ban for everyone in a file for robots, two others refuse access. We did not read any number from the primary source.

We do not add any weight from memory or secondary studies. This is the only fair solution in a situation where the primary source is unavailable, and the number circulating in compilations does not have a specified provision.

However, it is worth noting something more important than the number itself. What actually differentiates the response of the authorities in Norway is not the weight, but the identity of the perpetrator, and this principle is directly derived from the study.

A person with an addiction is treated differently, as is a youth aged fifteen to eighteen, and differently from all others. The division therefore runs through the characteristics of the person, not through the contents of their pockets.

For a reader accustomed to weight tables, this is atypical. In Norway, the question of the permissible number of grams is poorly posed, as the regulations answer a completely different question.

What is the penalty for exceeding the threshold in Norway?

The most common response to a person caught using cannabis has been a regular fine imposed by a penalty notice, combined with an entry in the criminal record. This second element can be more painful for the punished than the amount itself. The entry can be more painful for the punished than the amount of the fine, as it remains for years.

For youth aged fifteen to eighteen, the practice has changed over time. The most common response today is withdrawal from prosecution, conditional or unconditional, instead of a fine and entry.

However, the practice towards addicted individuals has changed the most. Following a letter from the Attorney General in May 2022, the use, possession, and purchase of smaller amounts of drugs by addicted individuals are not to be punished.

The response in such cases is to be unconditional withdrawal from prosecution. The definition of an addicted person is applied in such a way that any doubt should work in favor of the suspect.

Formally, the act remains prohibited, and this is the essence of the Norwegian solution. The law has not changed, only the way it is applied, and such a change can be reversed without the involvement of parliament.

A penalty notice is not a court proceeding. It is a quick response, and its record effect is often only noticed when applying for a job or a visa.

Does Norway have a medical marijuana program?

The program exists, but narrowly and without a market, on which solutions in some other countries in this comparison are based. For certain diseases, some cannabis products may be prescribed, but this must be done by a doctor and in a treatment situation. Without a prescription, this path is closed.

The study we are working on does not mention either indications or specific preparations. We do not provide them, as the source does not contain them, and Norwegian official services that would provide them are closed to bots.

It is worth noting the formulation about the treatment situation. It is not just about having a prescription, but about the therapeutic context in which the doctor makes the decision and is responsible for it.

The Norwegian model is therefore closer to an exceptional path than to a program with established frameworks. There is no list of indications or a closed catalog of products here, at least in the scope that can be read from this source.

For a patient from Poland, the practical conclusion is cautious. The access paths for a person from outside the country are not described in this study, so it is not possible to derive an answer to the question about the realization of a Polish prescription.

What is the status of CBD in Norway?

This is a Norwegian trap and results from the definition, not from a list of substances. CBD products are technically treated as drugs in Norway and are illegal without a prescription, as the list defines cannabis as the above-ground parts of all plants of this kind. The criterion here is the origin of the raw material, not its composition.

The definition therefore also includes cannabidiol itself and other natural cannabinoids. There is no threshold for the content of psychoactive substances that would change anything, as the criterion is origin, not composition.

The exception is products containing only synthetically produced cannabidiol, as these are subject to different regulations. The distinction therefore goes by the method of production, which is a unique solution in this comparison.

The institute adds separately that all products containing psychoactive substances are prohibited in Norway. This also applies to products with low content, below two or three tenths of a percent.

This group includes hemp oils sold as health-promoting and non-intoxicating. These are the ones that most often end up in travel luggage, as they stand on a regular store shelf in the country of purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Has Norway decriminalized drugs?

No. The drug reform proposal, which aimed to decriminalize the use of cannabis and other narcotic substances, was rejected by parliament in June 2021. Use and possession remain prohibited.

How much marijuana can be possessed in Norway?

We have not established a quantitative threshold, as Norwegian services with texts of laws are closed to bots. The response of the authorities is differentiated not by weight, but by the identity of the perpetrator.

Are addicted individuals punished for possession in Norway?

Following a letter from the Attorney General in May 2022, the use, possession, and purchase of smaller amounts by addicted individuals are not to be punished, and the response is to be unconditional withdrawal from prosecution.

How does Norway treat teenagers caught with marijuana?

For youth aged fifteen to eighteen, the most common response today is withdrawal from prosecution, conditional or unconditional, instead of a penalty notice and entry in the register.

Is CBD oil legal in Norway?

Not without a prescription. The list defines cannabis as the above-ground parts of all plants of this kind, so it also includes cannabidiol itself. The exception is products with cannabidiol produced synthetically.

Does Norway have medical marijuana?

For certain diseases, some cannabis products may be prescribed, but this must be done by a doctor and in a treatment situation. The study does not mention either indications or preparations.

Sources

The 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