Cannabis in Austria is legal for scientific and limited medical usage, but illegal for recreational usage. Possession of small amounts for personal use was decriminalized in 2016.[1] The sale of cannabis seeds and plants is legal.[2]

Map of cannabis laws in Europe
Legality of cannabis in Europe
  Legal for recreational use
  Legal for medical use
  Illegal
Hanfwandertag, Vienna, 2014

Medical cannabis

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On 9 July 2008, the Austrian Parliament approved cannabis cultivation for scientific and medical uses.[3] Cannabis cultivation is controlled by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit, AGES).[4]

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The purchase, importation, exportation, transportation, or cultivation of cannabis is a punishable offense in Austria. Offenders are facing high fines or imprisonment up to 360 days. In 2016, the possession of small amounts of THC containing substances for personal consumption was slightly decriminalized to the degree that such cases will not be pursued if the possessor has not been implicated in any drug related offenses within the last five years.[5]

Both Δ9-THC and pharmaceutical preparations containing Δ9-THC are listed in annex IV of the Austrian Narcotics Decree (Suchtgiftverordnung).[6] Compendial formulations are manufactured upon prescription according to the German Neues Rezeptur-Formularium.[7][8]

In 2022, the German government announced plans to legalize the regulated purchase and the recreational use of cannabis. Due to the common open border between Germany and Austria (32% of Austria’s entire border), and their close economic and cultural ties, a public discussion has been sparked in Austria regarding legalization.[9]

References

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  1. ^ ""Legalisierung light": Cannabis in Kleinstmengen quasi straffrei". 13 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Legal status of cannabis in Austria". Sensi Seeds. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  3. ^ "AFP: Austria allows cannabis for medical purposes". Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  4. ^ "Änderung des Suchtmittelgesetzes – SMG" (PDF). Bundesgesetzblatt für die Republik Österreich (in German). Vienna: Österreichischer Bundesverlag. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  5. ^ "Wie legal ist der Handel mit Cannabis in Österreich?". www.stadt-wien.at.
  6. ^ "Verordnung der Bundesministerin für Gesundheit und Frauen über den Verkehr und die Gebarung mit Suchtgiften (Suchtgiftverordnung – SV)" (PDF) (in German). Bundesministerium für Gesundheit und Frauen. 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-30.[dead link]
  7. ^ Valenta, Claudia (2005). "Magistrale Problem-Rezepturen". Österreichische Apothekerzeitung (in German) (5). Vienna: Österreichische Apotheker-Verlagsges.m.b.H. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  8. ^ ABDA – Bundesvereinigung Deutscher Apothekerverbände (21 April 2008). "Rezepturhinweise: Dronabinol- und Cannabis-Zubereitungen" (PDF). Pharmazeutische Zeitung (in German). Eschborn: Govi-Verlag Pharmazeutischer Verlag GmbH. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  9. ^ Breit, Lisa; Koch, Florian. "Was, wenn Cannabis in Österreich legal wäre?". Der Standard. Retrieved 8 August 2023.