At least 27 jurisdictions allow some form of home cannabis cultivation, creating potential for community supply models | Research

The takeaway

A review of cannabis home cultivation policies across 27+ jurisdictions found wide variation in plant limits and sharing rules, and argues these policies could serve as the basis for community-level cannabis supply models that engage existing networks.

Cannabis policy researchers, legislators designing legalization frameworks, and advocates for community-based drug policy.

27+ jurisdictions allow home growing

What the researchers found

At least 27 jurisdictions have adopted non-prohibitive approaches to home cannabis cultivation, ranging from full legalization to de facto depenalization. Key policy limitations include possession thresholds for harvested product, rules about sharing, and disproportionate sanctions for violations. The authors argue home cultivation policies could be expanded into community-level supply models.

Why it matters

Home cultivation is often overlooked in cannabis policy debates that focus on commercial markets. But it represents an alternative supply model that could engage existing cannabis communities, reduce black market reliance, and give users more control over product quality.

The numbers in context

27+ jurisdictions with non-prohibitive home cultivation. 12 jurisdictions fully legalized (including 3 US states with home-grow only). 8 jurisdictions decriminalized. Others depenalized through law or court rulings. Countries span from Uruguay to South Africa to Canada.

How the study worked

Policy review of laws and regulations pertaining to home cannabis cultivation in states and countries that have legalized, decriminalized, or applied other non-prohibitive approaches.

What this study cannot tell us

Policy review without empirical data on outcomes. The feasibility of community supply models is theoretical. Regulatory details change rapidly. Some jurisdictions listed may have since changed their policies.

How to read the evidence

Rated moderate because this is a thorough policy review covering multiple jurisdictions, though it does not include empirical outcome data.

When this study was published

Published in 2019. Cannabis policies in many jurisdictions have continued to evolve since.

The bigger picture

As cannabis legalization spreads globally, the commercial market model dominates policy discussion. Home and community cultivation offers an alternative that is more inclusive, particularly for communities that were disproportionately affected by prohibition.

Questions still open

Can community cultivation models actually reduce black market activity? How do plant limits affect whether home growing is practically viable? Do home cultivation policies affect commercial market dynamics?

Common questions

Where is home cannabis cultivation legal?

As of this review, at least 27 jurisdictions had some form of non-prohibitive approach, including full legalization in multiple US states, Canada, and Uruguay, plus decriminalization in Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and others.

What are community supply models?

The authors propose expanding home cultivation rules to accommodate pooled growing and sharing within communities, creating legitimate, local alternatives to commercial markets.

What limits do home growing policies typically have?

Common restrictions include maximum number of plants (per person and per property), possession limits for harvested product, and rules about whether sharing or distributing to others is allowed.

Read the original research

Overview of "home" cultivation policies and the case for community-based cannabis supply.

The International journal on drug policy, 71, 36-46

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Belackova, Vendula; Roubalova Stefunkova, Michaela; van de Ven, Katinka. (2019). Overview of "home" cultivation policies and the case for community-based cannabis supply.. The International journal on drug policy, 71, 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.05.021