Across Europe, a growing number of countries are acknowledging that cannabis prohibition has failed to deliver its intended outcomes, doing little to curb use or dismantle the illicit market.
In response, more governments are reconsidering their approach to cannabis policy in ways that benefit both consumers and society. The Czech Republic, for example, has advanced partial legalisation, while Turkey has introduced limited access for medical use.
Now, Slovenia is making its own move toward legalisation, at least in part, for personal consumption. As reported two weeks ago by the Slovenian news agency Index, members of Slovenia’s governing coalition, comprising the Freedom Movement (Gibanje Svoboda) and the Left (Levica), have submitted a draft bill to parliament aimed at regulating personal cannabis use. Natasa Sukic, a member of parliament from Levica, said the goal is to implement the will of the voters.
She also cited research suggesting that cannabis poses no greater health risk than other legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. The bill is also intended to help destigmatise cannabis use, an issue with broad relevance in a country of just over two million people.
Slim Majority in Favour of Reform
At the time of the 2024 European elections, Slovenia held a non-binding referendum asking voters to weigh in on cannabis legalisation. Some 51.57% supported legalising cannabis for personal use, while 66.71% backed cultivation for medical purposes.
The proposed legislation would allow adults to grow up to four cannabis plants per person—six per household—and carry up to seven grams of dried flower in public.
At home, individuals would be permitted to possess up to 150 grams, or 300 grams per household. A new THC tolerance scale is also proposed. While commercial sales would remain prohibited, the bill would permit the non-commercial sharing of small quantities of cannabis.
A separate law, passed with a two-thirds parliamentary majority in June, already permits private producers to cultivate cannabis for medical use with a government-issued licence.
Road Use and Workplace Rules
As in Germany, cannabis use around minors and educational institutions is strongly discouraged. The draft law includes THC thresholds for drivers, with escalating fines for violations:
-
Up to 3 ng/ml of blood: €300
-
Between 3–5 ng/ml: €600
-
Over 5 ng/ml: €1,200
Police would be authorised to use approved testing methods to assess driver impairment. However, the bill explicitly prohibits employers from drug-testing workers for cannabis, citing consumer protection as the rationale.
Next Steps
Despite being part of the ruling coalition, Slovenia’s Social Democrats have yet to endorse the proposal. The bill is expected to be subject to further debate and possible revision following public consultation.
