Weed In Finland: A Guide To Cannabis’ Legal Status In The European Country
This article was originally published on 2Fast4Buds and appears here with permission.
Finland still upholds the ban on recreational cannabis use. The punishments may not seem severe, but the law is the law.
With no traditions of cannabis use going back centuries, Finland treats the substance as a dangerous drug and a threat to the public. This makes the country not a very welcoming place for marijuana smokers. While the police may choose to overlook some less serious offenses (for the sheer lack of resources to prosecute them all), we recommend the visitors to Finland to stay clear of cannabis use for the whole duration of their stay. Below, we’ll tell you about some risks and consequences of not following our advice.
Use, Possesion, And Other Offenses
Cannabis is illegal in Finland under the country’s Narcotics Act. This means that regardless of the amount involved, you can’t legally obtain, possess or use the substance or its derivatives. The criminalization of personal use happened in 1972, despite an almost equal divide among the legislators. In 2001, the system was reformed because it was putting a strain on courts.
Now, when the amount of cannabis confiscated from a user is less than 10 grams of hash or 15 grams of flowers, the offender is issued a fine. They may still demand their day in court, but it probably wouldn’t be the wisest decision, as the penalty, if found guilty, could be more severe. The table below shows some narcotics offenses and penalties in Finland.
Offense
Penalty
Consumption
Fine or up to 6 months in prison
Acquiring a small amount
Import/Export/Transport
Fine or up to 2 years in prison
Aggravated: 1-10 years in prison
Distribution/Sale/Supply
Possession
Acquiring
In the case of cannabis, the aggravating circumstances include:
the offense involves a large amount of the substance,
considerable economic benefit from the criminal activity is sought or gained,
the offense is committed by an organized group,
the substance is being distributed to those under 18.
Driving While Intoxicated
Driving under the Influence of marijuana is illegal in Finland. If a test finds any …