Is cannabis legal in Belgium? Can I carry a small amount?
In short
No, cannabis is not legal. Having it is also a crime. For personal use, in a place that is not open to the public and with no aggravating circumstances, it is at the lowest level (level 1). On the street or in a park it is level 2; selling it is punished very heavily.
Video transcript
In the park, a friend hands you some cannabis: 'It's legal in Belgium,' they say. Not allowed: Cannabis is not legal, and having it is a crime. Having it in a park or on the street is level 2. Even selling to a friend is dealing. The right way: Don't take it, carry it or sell it. Driving after using cannabis is forbidden too. Consequences: Small amount, private place: First time 200 €; In the street, in a park: 6 months – 3 years prison; Selling: 3 – 5 years prison.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Having drugs, including cannabis, is a crime under the law of 24 February 1921. The idea that 'cannabis is legal' is wrong.
- Having cannabis for personal use is level 1 if there are no aggravating circumstances: no prison. The first time, the fine is 200 €; with surcharge multipliers, the amount you pay can be higher. If you do it again within one year of a first conviction, the fine can be up to 400 €; if you do it again within one year of a second conviction, up to 800 €. The prosecution gives the lowest priority to an adult having at most 3 grams or 1 plant; this is not permission. Having it on the street, in a park, at school or in a place open to the public is level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative penalty.
- Selling cannabis (even to a friend) is drug dealing: level 3.
- Selling drugs to a child aged 12–16 is level 4 (5–10 years in prison). Selling to a child under 12 is level 5 (10–15 years in prison). Selling to a young person aged 16–17 is level 3, but the judge sees this as an aggravating circumstance.
- On the road, there is also zero tolerance for driving after using cannabis. The police can take your licence away immediately.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Personal use (level 1): a fine of 200 € the first time. If you do it again within one year of a first conviction, up to 400 €; if you do it again within one year of a second conviction, up to 800 €. With surcharge multipliers, the amount you pay can be higher. Instead of a fine, 20–120 hours of community service (werkstraf / peine de travail) can also be given. At level 1, the general legal fine range is 200 € – 20.000 €.
Legal basis:Drugwet 24.2.1921, art. 2ter 1°ejustice.just.fgov.be
- Court / prison
- Having it on the street, in a park or in a place open to the public is level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative penalty. Selling is level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison. Selling to a child aged 12–16 is level 4: 5 – 10 years in prison. Selling to a child under 12 is level 5: 10 – 15 years in prison.
Legal basis:Drugwet 24.2.1921, art. 2bis
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 1: No prison: a fine, community service or probation. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- It can appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire). This can cause problems when you apply for jobs.
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 595
- For serious or repeated crimes, your residence permit can be taken away or not renewed. Your citizenship application can be blocked.
Legal basis:Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 21, 23 §2 + WBN 28.6.1984, art. 15 §3
- If a drug test is positive while you are driving, you cannot drive for at least 12 hours and your licence can be taken away immediately for 15 days
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1, 56 (Justel)
- People under 18 go to the youth court (jeugdrechtbank / tribunal de la jeunesse)
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 26
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
A developing brain is very vulnerable to addiction. Drug dealing feeds violence and the criminal economy; this rule protects young people from these networks.
Where can you go?
- Free first-line legal advice and pro deo lawyerA free or low-cost lawyer if your income is low
- Justice HouseInformation and support for victims, accused people and convicted people (Justitiehuis / Maison de justice)
- Emergency112 · Police 101
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 19 / 19 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 23.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 19 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Esrar dahil uyuşturucu bulundurmak 24 Şubat 1921 kanununa göre suçtur
Justel, Drugswet 24 februari 1921 (bijgewerkt tot 26-03-2026; wijziging W 2026-03-16/13, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 2bis §1 - Found in an official source
Kişisel kullanım için az miktar, ağırlaştırıcı yoksa seviye 1 (ilk sefer 200 €, tekrarda 400/800 €); kamuya açık yerde seviye 2
KB 6 september 2017 tot regeling van verdovende middelen, art. 61 §2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
3 gram veya 1 bitki sınırı (kanunda değil, savcılık yönergesinde); 2005 yönergesi COL 15/2015 ile kaldırıldı
COL 15/2015 (herziene versie 18.06.2018), punt 5.4.1.1 a en VII. Opheffing - Found in an official source
Esrar satmak seviye 3
Justel, Drugswet 24 februari 1921 (bijgewerkt tot 26-03-2026; wijziging W 2026-03-16/13, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 2bis §1 - Found in an official source
12–16 yaş arası çocuğa satmak seviye 4; 12 yaş altına seviye 5
Wet 24 februari 1921 (drugwet), art. 2bis §§3-4 (Justel, W 2026-03-16/13) - Found in an official source
Satmak seviye 3 (3–5 yıl); çocuğa satmak seviye 4 (5–10 yıl) veya seviye 5 (10–15 yıl)
Drugwet 24.2.1921, art. 2bis - Found in an official source
Seviye 1: ilk sefer 200 €, tekrarda 400/800 € veya 20–120 saat çalışma; genel aralık 200–20.000 €
Drugwet 24.2.1921, art. 2ter 1° - Corrected according to the source
Araçta test pozitifse en az 12 saat sürüş yasağı; ehliyete 15 gün el konabilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 55 §1, 56 (Justel) - Found in an official source
18 yaş altı gençlik mahkemesine gider
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 26 - Found in an official source
Adli sicil, oturum izni/vatandaşlık sonuçları (ortak metin)
FOD Justitie – Uittreksel uit het strafregister - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e kaydedilir; kişi bir uittreksel alabilir ve bu belge iş başvurusunda istenebilir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Kamu düzeni nedeniyle oturum sona erdirilebilir; suçun ağırlığı dikkate alınır; vatandaşlıkta savcı 'kişiye özgü ciddi olgular' nedeniyle olumsuz görüş verebilir
Vreemdelingenwet 15.12.1980, art. 21, 23 §2 + WBN 28.6.1984, art. 15 §3 - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kanun tekrarda sabit tutar değil üst sınır koyuyor ('maximaal 400 / 800 euro') ve ilk tekrar için 'bir yıl içinde' şartı arıyor; kart 'çıkar' diyerek kesin tutar ve şartsız artış yazıyor. Ayrıca 3 gram/1 bitki savcılığın kovuşturma önceliği
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kanun tekrarda 'en fazla 400 €' (bir yıl içinde) ve 'en fazla 800 €' diyor; kart bunları sabit tutar gibi yazıyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Ehliyete el koyma kanunda takdirlidir ('kan onmiddellijk ingetrokken worden'); kart bunu kesin sonuç gibi yazıyor. Kartın kendi indirectConsequences maddesi de 'el konabilir' diyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Seviye 1 için 'ağırlaştırıcı durum yoksa' şartı (KB art. 61 §2 1°) özette düşmüş; özet kurallardaki şartı atlıyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
12–16 yaş arası seviye 4, 12 yaş altı seviye 5; 16 yaş üstü temel seviye 3 + hâkim dikkate alır
Drugwet 24.2.1921, art. 2bis §1-4 - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Bir yıl içinde tekrarda en fazla 400 €, yeniden tekrarda en fazla 800 €
Drugwet art. 2ter 1° (Justel, tekstbijwerking 26-03-2026) - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): İlk sefer 200 €; tekrarda ≤400 €, yeni tekrarda ≤800 €
Drugwet art. 2ter 1°
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?