We here in the U.S. are often only blissfully aware of our own cannabis culture, products, and laws. Despite our country’s current excellence in breeding and advancing cannabis cultivars and culture, the world of weed isn’t just centered around what we do here.
Different countries, even different continents, have their own traditions, norms, and styles when it comes to getting high—some aspects you may be aware of and others you may not. Weed gets you high no matter where it’s consumed, but there’s still a lot the typical American cannabis consumer doesn’t know when it comes to international weed.
Veriheal readers, pack your bags (and bowls), it’s time to take a tour around the world—in a daze, of course—exploring different countries and cultures, and the ways they get high.
Landrace strains hail from specific regions of the world and form the basis of all cannabis genetics. Geographical and climate-related factors contribute to the genetic traits that specific strains feature.
Indica strains are potentially more sedative, stony, and relaxing. They also originate in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.
Indica cultivars feature short, bushy appearances due to their evolution in moisture conservation and regulation of temperature in those dry mountainous regions. This variety produces very frosty resin as a defense mechanism against extreme elements in its original mountainous habitats.
Sativa landrace strains originate from subtropical and tropical latitudes along the Earth’s equator. The hot and humid climates of these areas molded sativa cannabis plants into their classic appearance—very tall, wiry, and airy to regulate high temperatures in very UV-rich areas.
The high limonene and pinene terpene content of landrace sativas is what gives them their reportedly energetic, uplifting, and focused reputation. Sativa landrace strains need a few more weeks to finish flowering because they face very long summers and growing seasons in many places around the world, including:
North and South Poles notwithstanding, regions of Central Asia and Eastern Europe feature some of the world’s most bitterly cold climates. A third variety of cannabis—Ruderalis—evolved in the climates found in places like Russia, Siberia, Ukraine, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.
These regions all feature shorter growing seasons, cold temperatures, and unpredictable light cycles. Ruderalis adapted to rely on time itself to trigger flowering, unlike traditional photoperiod indica and sativa plants that rely solely on the light cycle.
Their short, hardy nature and low THC levels led people to leave these plants to grow wild. However, breeders crossed its main trait—flowering after just 4 weeks—with indica and sativa strains to create a seed type known as autoflowers. Growers use autoflowers for quicker grows that yield a bounty of bud in just 8-10 weeks. Autoflowers now rival photoperiod strains in terms of potency and quicker turnaround times.
We all know the story here stateside, cannabis is federally illegal, yet almost half of the states now have adult-use recreational marijuana legalized within their own borders. Marijuana, concentrates, and edibles dominate the market despite their varying legal statuses in the U.S. Whitney Economics estimates retail cannabis sales in the U.S. to total approximately $34.0 billion by the end of 2025, with no signs of slowing down.
Weed here is plentiful and continues to astound in potency, aroma, and bag appeal, but what’s weed like within the borders of our neighbors to the south and north, Canada and Mexico?
Mexico has a significant history with weed here in the U.S. Mexican cartel-linked cannabis was the majority of weed for people in the U.S. for decades until medical and recreational programs became the norm, and breeders took genetics to the next level.
Besides brick weed, some legendary landrace strains hail from Mexico, like Acapulco Gold and Oaxaca, and have been available on the black market to consumers in the U.S. since the 60s.
Brick weed and landrace strains still get around plenty in Mexico; however, the advent of top-tier cannabis breeding and genetics here in the U.S. has trickled down south of the border. Big cities in Mexico now produce high-grade indoor flower hybrids on par with what growers cultivate in the U.S. Mexico legalized medical marijuana, and the government decriminalized possession of 5 grams or less for Mexican nationals.
While lawmakers in the U.S. can’t agree on anything, industry professionals and politicians in Canada have one of the most developed frameworks for legal weed in the world. As the second country in the world to fully legalize cannabis, Canada allows adults to possess 30 grams or less and grow at home in 8 of 10 provinces. Canada legalized medical cannabis in 2001.
Much of the weed culture from the U.S. has made its way up north. Province-run stores are everywhere, along with head shops and 4/20 celebrations. Simple advancements like legal federal banking for marijuana businesses, federal regulation, and national distribution create a stark difference with the stifling hypocrisy that cannabis’s Schedule I distinction prevents here in the U.S.
South America sits on the Western Hemisphere with much of its land mass in proximity to the equator. Hot and humid conditions in many of the continent’s 12 countries produce different sativa strains, though indoor cultivation is also very common. Cultivators grow craft cannabis strains alongside brick weed known as “prensado”.
These independent nations also vary widely in their cannabis laws; however, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalize recreational weed in 2013.
Despite Uruguay’s fully legal status, only legal residents can access it from pharmacies, private cannabis clubs, or grow their own at home. Cannabis clubs in particular make up a lot of the cannabis culture in Uruguay due to variety, quality, and the ability to grow dozens of your own plants.
Since cannabis isn’t legalized recreationally in other countries in South America like it is in Uruguay, people still get their weed in other ways. Cannabis cultivators in Paraguay operate as one of the largest producers of illicit weed in not just South America, but the world.
Smugglers send much of it to neighboring countries like Brazil, which reportedly receives about 80% of Paraguay’s supply. Rural isolation, an ideal climate, and drug trafficking networks drive Paraguay’s cannabis production. The country also has medical marijuana and some decriminalization for small amounts.
Many of the other countries in South America have some degree of decriminalization or medical access.
Despite the U.S. taking over advancements in cannabis breeding, genetics, and culture, European countries created a legacy that U.S. cannabis breeders and culture now dominate.
Breeders and growers in European countries have a deep tradition of hash making and consumption compared to the U.S. Many countries feature decriminalization laws that allow for looser restrictions when it comes to consumption, possession, and cultivation.
Legendary hash-making countries like Morocco and Afghanistan send many of their products to European countries like Spain, France, and the Netherlands, where potent, concentrated hash still dominates culture.
Europeans are notorious for spliffs—joints typically rolled with hash and tobacco. Many European countries use spliffs more often than Americans realize. This phenomenon occurs because potent hash is very common, and people need to combine it with something readily available and inhalable to combust with. Weed was often hard to acquire, expensive, and low-potency until more recently. Spliffs can be found all over Europe, but especially in:
Amsterdam’s location as a vital port made the city a melting pot of seeds and strains from different parts of the world. Naturally, a culture of cultivation and consumption prevailed within a looser atmosphere of decriminalization. Cannabis breeders from Amsterdam created various innovations regarding cannabis cultivation, namely indoor cultivation and feminized seeds.
Breeders in Amsterdam shaped today’s amazing hybrids through their innovation and work in the 70s–90s. Strains like Skunk and Amnesia Haze made their way across the shores to the U.S, but originated in the coffee shops of Amsterdam alongside Space Cakes and potent hash. These traditions still prevail to this day.
Amsterdam dominates all cannabis speak when it comes to Europe, but other countries have their own vibe as well. Germany fully legalized adult-use marijuana in 2024, while medical marijuana, decriminalization laws, and member-based cannabis clubs dominate the culture of most other European countries.
Many hash-making countries are located in Asia, such as Afghanistan and India. The Hindu Kush and Khyber regions of India, Nepal, and Pakistan developed deep traditions of hash making.
Consumers of hash in Asia also smoke it in spliffs; however, other forms are also popular. India originated both bhang, an edible form of cannabis, and charas, a legendary hand-rolled variety of hash known around the world as ‘temple balls’. Hookahs, joints, and chillum pipes are other methods of consumption for both hash and cannabis flower in many Asian countries.
China, Japan, South Korea, and most Southeast Asia countries don’t play around when it comes to weed. The plant and its derivatives are outlawed and heavily enforced, despite countries like China having a rich heritage of cannabis as medicine.
Russia enforces strict drug laws that make possession of more than 6 grams highly illegal; however, Russians still consume plenty of imported hash. Despite the strict environments, the underground cannabis culture still exists mostly around hash consumption.
Cannabis use in Africa spans many centuries as a medicinal, spiritual, and social cornerstone. African culture is very spirited, especially paired with weed, music, food, and friends. Africans enjoy cannabis and hash often with pipes, spliffs, and joints.
However, colonists enacted drug laws during colonial times to suppress ancient indigenous practices, and some places still have them in place.
READ: Kief vs. Hash—What’s the Difference and How Can They Be Used?
Africa’s warm, equatorial geography produces landrace sativas. The city of Durban benefited from outstanding genetics moving through its port, much like Amsterdam. Cannabis consumers report the strain Durban Poison as one of the most potent landrace sativas on Earth. Malawi Gold and Swazi Gold are two other standout strands originating from Africa as well.
A wide variety of hash comes from North Africa, especially in Morocco. This North African country features socially acceptable attitudes toward consumption and cultivation. Rich generational legacies of hash growers and producers still exist in this port country to provide their products to consumers in Europe and the Middle East as some of the best in the world.
Cultivators can now legally produce cannabis and hash for medical and industrial use in Morocco. Hash producers there are famous for several varieties like Ketama Gold, Double 00, and Moroccan brick hash, which are all made using ancient traditional methods.
The many port cities of South Africa also benefited greatly from traders importing and exporting genetics from around the world. Durban is, of course, the home of Durban Poison, a high-quality 100% pure sativa landrace strain.
Cannabis culture is heavy in South African cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, with a heavy homegrow and gray market culture that thrives in a private-use, decriminalized environment. Rastafari communities in South Africa traditionally call cannabis ‘dagga’.
Africa has 54 independent nations with variations in cannabis use and laws.
Aussies love weed—it’s the home to a large countercultural presence, especially the outdoor, surfing, and skateboarding scenes. Metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane all have large populations of cannabis consumers.
Cannabis remains fully illegal in Australia, but police usually give warnings instead of jail time for small possession. Medical marijuana has been fully legal nationwide in Australia with a prescription since 2016, while also being decriminalized in some regions of South Australia. Australians still grow a lot of outdoor and indoor home plants despite the legal restrictions.
Bush grows are outdoor grows that are a large part of the black market. Hashish is less common in Australia because the country sits far from traditional hash-producing trade routes and subsequent demand. Aussies also enjoy spliffs due to the British cultural influence prevalent there; however, bongs are extremely popular. Consumers use slang like ‘packing a cone’ to indicate loading a bong up with some tobacco and weed for a strong rush to the head.
Australian politicians continue to maintain federal cannabis prohibition despite strong progressive public support and a high consumption rate.
Cannabis—it’s a traditional medicine, cultural staple, and international sensation, and no matter how much different institutions and laws try to keep people away from it, they always find a way to access it.
People all over the world like to get high, be happy, and have fun, no matter what country they live in. Cannabis varies in many different forms and methods of consumption across the world, but this tour definitely reinforces one thing—weed is one of the main things that connects humans of all nations the most.
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