Cannabis in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia
This post goes with our YouTube video "Cannabis in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia". The couple in the story below is made up. We wrote them to capture the feel of the video, not to describe real people. The part about Georgian law further down is real, and we link to our sources.
A made-up story from the mountains
Picture a small house high in the Caucasus, somewhere between Europe and Asia. A young couple lives there. On clear mornings they can see the snow on the peaks, and on weekends they drive down to Tbilisi to walk the old cobbled streets, or east to the vineyards of Kakheti.
They love their country for its mix of old and new: cave monasteries like Vardzia carved into the rock centuries ago, and a younger generation in the cities whose ideas often differ from their parents'.
In the story, the couple dreams of a little garden of their own, plants moving in the mountain wind and drying in the late summer sun. It's a nice dream. In real life in Georgia, though, that garden would be a crime, and "legal cannabis in Georgia" headlines tend to skip that.
What the law in Georgia actually says
Georgia is often described as a country where cannabis is legal. That is only half true.
In July 2018 the Constitutional Court ruled that using cannabis falls under a person's right to free development of their personality, so consumption itself can no longer be punished. Using it in public places or near children stayed illegal (IDPC, August 2018).
Growing and selling never became legal. In July 2025 parliament tightened the Criminal Code again. Buying or holding more than 5 grams of dried cannabis can now lead to up to six years in prison, and amounts of 70 to 250 grams carry five to eight years (Civil.ge, July 2025).
Growing plants is a criminal offence. Up to 5 grams of dried cannabis is treated as an administrative offence, but a repeat offence can still mean up to a year in prison (OC Media).
Georgian cannabis law has changed several times since 2018 and may change again. Check the current rules before you rely on anything here. This is not legal advice.
Why we don't give growing tips for Georgia
We get asked about growing in all kinds of places, and normally we're happy to talk about climate, strains and timing. For Georgia we won't, because growing plants there is a criminal offence and can lead to prison.
If you live in a country where home growing is allowed, the rules where you live decide what you can do, not the mood of a video. Read up on your local law first, then pick seeds that suit your space and climate.
Where home growing is legal: Malta
If the couple in our story lived in Malta, a few plants at home would be legal. In December 2021 Malta's parliament approved the first law in the EU allowing adults to grow up to four plants at home and carry up to 7 grams (Euronews, December 2021). Rules can change, so read our post on whether weed is legal in Malta for the current situation, and our piece on cannabis culture in Malta for a look at life on the island.
Questions people ask about cannabis in Georgia
Is cannabis legal in Georgia?
Partly. Since 2018, using cannabis is not punished, but using it in public or near children is still illegal. Growing and selling are illegal, and since July 2025 buying or holding more than 5 grams of dried cannabis can mean prison.
Can I grow a few plants at home in Georgia?
No. Growing plants is a criminal offence in Georgia.
Is the couple in this story real?
No. They are characters we made up for the video. The legal facts in this post are real and come from the sources linked above.
Watch the video that goes with this post on YouTube:
