Albania was once called the cannabis capital of Europe because illegal cannabis was grown all over the country. However, in 2025, Albania has made big changes.
It still produces 50% of Europe’s illegal cannabis, even though it legalized medical and industrial cannabis in 2023.
This change shows the country’s challenge in trying to make money from cannabis while also keeping strict control over drugs.
Is Cannabis Legal in Albania? Legal Status in 2025
No, cannabis is illegal for recreational use in Albania. However, medical cannabis is legal, but only for export. Industrial hemp with less than 0.8% THC is also legal.
1. Recreational Use
Recreational cannabis is prohibited. The possession of small amounts can lead to a fine or jail time, although small doses are only vaguely defined for personal use. Random drug tests are conducted by police, and penalties include imprisonment from 5 to 10 years for trafficking.
2. Medicinal Use
Medical cannabis is legal but unavailable to Albanians. Only licensed companies can cultivate and process cannabis for export, and their goods, including oils and extracts, reach Germany and Canada.
There is no domestic medical program, and patients are left with no option but to source medication from the black market.
3. Industrial Use
Albania tops industrial hemp production, aided by the climatic opportunity, with 70% of Europe’s hemp fibers coming from here.
New for 2023, the law permits CBD cosmetics and construction materials like hempcrete, but all would need to be tested to prove less than 0.8% THC.
Cannabis Usage and Its Impact in Albania
1. Recreational Drug Use
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Albania, particularly among youth. A 2017 survey showed that 12% of adults in urban areas had previously used hashish.
Nevertheless, mountain towns like Lazarat are notorious for having illegal large-scale cultivation, producing ~900 metric tons each year.
2. Mental Health Concerns
Opponents of legalization warn that this may increase addiction rates and possibly lead to psychosis, yet the data is limited. In 2022, the United Nations ranked Albania the 7th globally for cannabis cultivation, evident from the interconnection of the black market to organized crime and social instability.
3. Industrial Cannabis Use
500.000 employees work in the industrial sector and the contribution of $3.8 billion is noted in exports. Hemp-based innovation ranges from fibers and textiles to being on the way to developing sustainable plastics, hence establishing an eco-materials leading market for Albania.
Cannabis Cultivation in Albania
Licensed cultivation is highly restricted:
- Security: Farms require 4-meter concrete walls, 24/7 surveillance, and GPS-tracked transport.
- Licensing: Companies must pay a 100,000 lek fee (~ $1,000) and employ specialists in pharmacy and agro-engineering.
- Land allocation: Only 200 hectares are approved for medical cannabis.
Illegal cultivation persists, with an estimated 160,000 acres of illicit farms in remote regions.
Law and Control of Cannabis in Albania
1. How Cannabis Laws Are Enforced
The National Cannabis Control Agency monitors licensed farms via live CCTV feeds and unannounced inspections. Employees and company owners undergo background checks, and drug tests, and must have no criminal history.
In 2024, authorities made 1.2 million drug-related arrests, targeting both black-market growers and traffickers.
2. The Illegal Cannabis Market
Albania’s illicit trade generates $20 billion annually, with networks smuggling products to Italy, Greece, and beyond. Darknet markets and social media platforms facilitate sales, often involving products laced with unregulated additives.
Cannabis Penalties in Albania
| Offense | Penalty |
| Personal Use | 15 days’ detention + $325 fine. |
| Trafficking | 5–10 years imprisonment, even for small-scale personal growth. |
| Growing | 5–10 years imprisonment, even for small-scale personal grows. |
Future of Cannabis Legalization in Albania
The government of Albania plans a 200% growth in medical cannabis exports by 2030, targeting markets in North America and Asia.
Local legalization looks unlikely, faced with public mistrust-admitted by 65% of Albanians- and political resistance.
Albania’s cannabis laws have become a reflection of the country caught in the balancing scale against its fears of society.
On the one hand, while the regulated industries promise nothing but growth, on the other hand, the black market thrives, making the patients less served.
