Cannabis and home growing

What the law requires

• The box above shows the situation in your selected country. You can change the country at the top of the page.
• Home growing is legal in only a few countries and always with conditions: usually adults only, personal use only and at your own home.
• Plant numbers are capped, e.g. Germany 3 per adult, Malta and Luxembourg 4 per household, Canada 4 per residence. Limits often count all plants regardless of stage.
• Selling or giving away the harvest is prohibited almost everywhere.
• Some countries require seeds or plants from a legal source, registration (e.g. Uruguay) or that plants are not visible from public places.
• Regions, municipalities, landlords or housing companies may also restrict growing.
• If growing is prohibited in your country, do not grow. In Finland the legal alternative is field cultivation of industrial hemp.

Safety at home

• Store plants, harvest and products locked away from children and pets. Do not keep them with food or sweets.
• Electricity: use only approved, marked equipment. Do not overload sockets or extension cords and keep water away from electrical devices. New wiring is a job for an electrician.
• Fire: keep lamps and heaters well away from flammable materials and make sure your smoke alarm works.
• Humidity and mould: plants release a lot of water. Ventilate and monitor humidity – damp and mould are a health risk and damage buildings.
• Pesticides: use only products approved for that use in your country.
• Odour and neighbours: consider neighbours, housing rules and your lease.
• Never sell or give the harvest to others – it is illegal almost everywhere.

Basic plant needs

• Light: the plant needs plenty of light. Outdoors a sunny spot; for indoor lamps follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions. Note: e.g. the Australian ACT prohibits artificial light.
• Water: water when the topsoil has dried. Avoid standing water – roots need air too.
• Growing medium: well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes. Most vegetables like slightly acidic to neutral pH (about 6–7).
• Temperature and humidity: normal room temperature, about 20–28 °C by day. Avoid frost and strong heat. Moderate humidity lowers mould risk.
• Ventilation: air movement strengthens stems and reduces mould.
• Nutrients: general-purpose fertiliser as directed. Over-fertilising damages roots.

Life cycle in brief

• Seed and germination: in moist, warm conditions seeds usually germinate within a few days.
• Seedling: the first leaf pairs develop. Seedlings are sensitive to drying out and waterlogging.
• Vegetative stage: the plant grows leaves, stem and roots. It lasts weeks depending on variety and light.
• Flowering: in most varieties shortening days trigger flowering (late summer outdoors); so-called autoflowering varieties flower by age. Plants are usually male or female.
• Cannabis is an annual: the life cycle ends after flowering and seed development.
• Laws often count all plants, including seedlings – keep this in mind.

Health and responsibility

• Cannabis use carries health risks such as dependence and mental-health harms. Risks are highest for young people.
• Do not drive or operate machinery while impaired.
• Avoid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• If use worries you, the services below offer help and information.

Reliable health information

• Päihdelinkki (Finland): Cannabis
• THL (Finland): Drugs
• Health Canada: Growing cannabis at home safely
• BIÖG: Infos-Cannabis.de
• EUDA: Cannabis in Europe 2025