As 2025 draws to an end, we look back on a year that proved to be significant for cannabis policy and industry in many parts of the world. Below are some of the top international cannabis stories from around the globe from 2025 (in no particular order):

Czechia Approves Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization

One of the most noteworthy and inspiring news items of 2025 was Czechia’s approval of a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. The legalization measure was the direct result of years of tireless work by cannabis advocates inside the European nation. The country’s legalization model will involve permitting adults to cultivate up to three plants in their private residences and possess up to 100 grams of cannabis. The legal Czech possession limit is the largest limit among legalized European countries.

Slovenia Approves Historic Medical Cannabis Measure

It was a very big year for cannabis in Slovenia. This summer, nearly three months after Slovenia’s parliament introduced a medical cannabis policy modernization measure, the European nation’s national assembly voted to officially approve the legislation. Many components of the successful measure in Slovenia are the most progressive medical cannabis provisions to ever be approved in Europe. Following the passage of the medical cannabis measure, lawmakers in Slovenia also introduced a bill that would legalize cannabis for adult use.

Executive Order In The United States

At the federal level in the United States, cannabis policy has largely been frozen in time for many decades. Cannabis has been listed as a Schedule I substance since the early 1970s, despite many states having since legalized cannabis for adult and/or medical use. This month, United States President Trump signed a historic executive order, calling for cannabis to be rescheduled in an expedited fashion to Schedule III. The executive order puts into motion the most significant policy change at the federal level in the U.S. since the enactment of prohibition, and will help provide the emerging cannabis industry with much-needed tax relief, as well as boost cannabis research efforts by removing various hurdles.

Germany’s Industry Continued To Expand

As the largest legal market in Europe, Germany’s industry experienced considerable expansion in 2025. Further expansion is warranted, to be sure, but there was still a lot to celebrate in Germany this year. In the first three quarters of 2025, Germany’s industry imported over 142 tonnes of medical cannabis products. By comparison, roughly 40.4 tonnes were imported in the first three quarters of 2024, marking an increase of over 350%. According to the Federal Association of Cannabis Cultivation Associations’ (BCAv) end-of-year data, 368 cultivation association applications have now been approved. Cannabis opponents inside and outside of Germany’s government worked hard in 2025 to hinder the industry’s progress, and those efforts will undoubtedly continue into next year. However, cannabis advocates and industry members will never give up on the fight to keep Germany on the right side of history when it comes to cannabis policy, and their continued activism is inspiring.

Switzerland Trends Towards Adult-Use Legalization

Switzerland’s National Council’s Social Security and Public Health Committee gave preliminary approval to an adult-use cannabis legalization plan by a 14-9 vote in February 2025. Later in the year, the government opened a three-month public consultation period for a draft of the Swiss ‘CanPG’ measure. The proposal calls for allowing adult residents to cultivate up to 3 cannabis plants in their private residences, setting a private adult possession limit of 75 grams, and allowing residents to join member-based cultivation associations, among other things.

New Zealand Removes License Requirements For Industrial Hemp

New Zealand is home to an emerging industrial hemp industry, and thanks to a change by the nation’s government in 2025, New Zealand’s industrial hemp sector should experience increased growth in size and scope. Industrial hemp will no longer require a licence to grow or handle in New Zealand. The nation’s Cabinet approved “a package of changes to scrap the current licensing regime for industrial hemp” and “replace it with a more practical, proportionate regulatory approach,” according to the federal government.

Colombia Approves Use Of Medical Cannabis Flower

Government officials in Colombia approved the use of medical cannabis flower in 2025. The Colombian government issued Decree 1138 of 2025, which changed the rules on cannabis use, authorizing, for the first time, the use of the plant’s flower for medical purposes in the South American nation.

Uruguay Considers Expanding Legal Sales To Non-Residents

Uruguay’s executive director of the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis, Martín Rodríguez, confirmed in 2025 that lawmakers in the South American nation are considering expanding legal adult-use cannabis sales to tourists and other non-residents. Uruguay became the first country to ever adopt a national recreational cannabis legalization measure in 2013, but has limited legal sales to residents only. Hopefully that changes soon after the new year.

Cannabis Research Efforts Get A Boost In Brazil

When it comes to cannabis research, Brazil has emerged in recent years as a major international research hub. Even more research needs to be conducted in Brazil, and everywhere else around the globe, for that matter. But the amount of research being undertaken in Brazil these days is noteworthy. Brazilian agricultural research agency Embrapa received the green light in 2025 from health agency Anvisa to ramp up research on the cannabis plant, and received earmarked funding to do it as well.

Canada’s Industry Continues To Provide Economic Benefits

The legal cannabis market in Canada continued to serve as the top national adult-use market on the planet throughout 2025, and added to the overall economic benefits it has provided to the North American nation. An industry report was shared in the House of Commons in November, which highlighted that Canada’s legal cannabis industry has generated $5.4 billion for the federal and provincial governments since October 2018.

Morocco’s Legal Cannabis Industry Expands

Cannabis being exported from Morocco to markets in other countries is not a new thing. After all, Morocco has served as a top source for unregulated cannabis for decades. However, policymakers and regulators in Morocco have worked in recent years to transition the nation’s cannabis industry into a regulated system. Morocco officially entered the legal international medical cannabis market in 2025 with its first export to Australia. Additionally, the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products confirmed that 67 cannabis-derived products were granted marketing authorization in 2025.

Momentum Continues To Build For South Africa’s Cannabis Industry

To date, South Africa’s Agriculture Department has approved over 1,400 medical cannabis production permits, and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has issued 120 licenses for medical cannabis product exports. The next frontier for South Africa’s emerging cannabis industry is regulated adult use sales. While legalized adult-use sales did not launch in 2025, the government did continue its efforts to set up the framework for recreational cannabis commerce. The South African Cannabis Club Alliance recently announced that numerous entities have united behind Project Indlela, which “serves as a collective policy and legislative framework to guide South Africa’s transition toward a formalised, rights-based, and community-empowering cannabis economy.”

The Passing Of An International Cannabis Legend

Internationally acclaimed attorney Peter Homberg, one of the world’s most brilliant cannabis policy and industry experts, passed away unexpectedly in 2025. Words cannot express how much he will be missed by the International Cannabis Business Conference team and so many other people around the globe. He was a gem of a person by every measure, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family. Rest in peace Mr. Homberg. You will always be remembered and revered by everyone who was blessed to know you.