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Torontonians gather at a local concert venue to watch the "bud drop" at the stroke of midnight, in celebration of the legalization of recreational cannabis use on October 17 in Toronto, Canada.
Torontonians gather at a local concert venue to watch the "bud drop" at the stroke of midnight, in celebration of the legalization of recreational cannabis use on October 17 in Toronto, Canada.
Canada became the first industrialized nation, and the second country in the world after Uruguay, to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana in October. In the United States, Michigan and Vermont joined eight other states and the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., that had already legalized recreational cannabis, although it remains prohibited under federal law.
Top courts in South Africa and the country of Georgia also struck down prohibitions on cannabis, legalizing the plant for individual use. Similarly, Mexico's supreme court ruled for the fifth time that prohibitions on pot are unconstitutional. When it comes to medicinal cannabis, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Kingdom approved the use of the plant in 2018.
Other countries around the world are closely eyeing the decisions of these countries and exploring whether they should make similar adjustments to their narcotics laws. As legal Canadian and U.S. weed companies see soaring profits and investment, many governments are noting the plant's lucrative potential. Here's a look at some countries that may decide to follow suit and legalize in 2019.
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