Brazil decriminalised marijuana for personal use Wednesday, making the nation of 203 million the largest to take such a measure and the latest sign of a growing global acceptance of the drug.
Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that Brazilians could possess up to 40 grams of cannabis — roughly enough for 80 joints — without facing penalties, a decision that would take effect within days and stand for the next 18 months.
The court asked Brazil’s Congress and health authorities to then set the permanent amount of marijuana that citizens could possess. Selling marijuana remains a criminal offense.
Mexico legalized marijuana in 2021; Luxembourg did so last year; and Germany in April.
Canada and Uruguay have allowed licensed sales of marijuana for years. Many more countries have decriminalized marijuana, meaning they abolished criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of the drug, though it technically remains illegal and authorities still target traffickers.
