Can I have a small amount of cannabis (weed) in Lithuania?
No — any cannabis possession in Lithuania is unlawful, and the common myth that "a small amount was decriminalised" is simply wrong. Since 2017, when the new Code of Administrative Offences took effect, even the tiniest amount held without intent to supply triggers criminal, not administrative, liability under Article 259 of the Criminal Code. A small amount means up to 5 grams of cannabis (set by health minister order No. V-239); in that case the act is a criminal misdemeanour and can end in community service, a fine, restriction of liberty or arrest — and, crucially, a criminal record. Although parliament has repeatedly debated moving small-amount possession into administrative law, no such proposal has ever passed, so in 2026 the old, strict regime still applies. Hold more than a small amount, or hold it to supply, and the case shifts to Article 259(1) or Article 260, where real imprisonment is on the table.
📋 The rules
- Any cannabis possession without a doctor's prescription is unlawful — there is no legal "recreational" limit in Lithuania
- A small amount is up to 5 g of cannabis (health minister order No. V-239)
- Small-amount possession without intent to supply is a criminal misdemeanour under Article 259(2), not an administrative fine
- A larger amount or intent to supply — Article 259(1) or 260, where imprisonment applies
- A conviction leaves a criminal record seen by employers, authorities and some states when issuing visas
🔓 Exceptions
- Medical cannabis can be prescribed by a doctor — lawful only when bought at a pharmacy and used as the prescribed product
- Industrial hemp and products with a very low THC content are not narcotic substances and fall outside Article 259
- Using drugs without possessing them is treated as an administrative matter; mere possession already triggers criminal liability
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The key consequence is not the fine but the criminal record. Possessing a small amount (up to 5 g) without intent to supply is, under Article 259(2), a criminal misdemeanour: the court may impose community service, a fine, restriction of liberty or arrest, but in every case a criminal record remains. Holding a larger amount brings Article 259(1) into play — up to two years in prison. If intent to supply or actual supply is proven, the act falls under Article 260: from 2 to 8 years, and for a very large amount up to 15 years. What people miss: a record shows up in good-repute checks, can block work with children, the civil service or armed duties, complicates visas (for example to the US) and can cause problems with a driving licence or firearms permit. The substances found and related property are confiscated.
📎 Official sources
- e-seimas · Criminal Code, Articles 259 and 260 →
- e-tar · Health minister order No. V-239 (substance quantities) →
- NTAKD · drug control and liability →
❓ Frequently asked
Is it true that a small amount of cannabis was decriminalised?
No, this is one of the most common myths — possessing a small amount without intent to supply is still a criminal misdemeanour under Article 259 of the Criminal Code. Parliament has repeatedly discussed moving such acts into administrative law, but by 2026 no such proposal has passed, so the strict regime remains in force.
What counts as a small amount?
For cannabis, a small amount is no more than 5 grams — this is fixed by health minister order No. V-239. Above that threshold the act is no longer a criminal misdemeanour but a crime under Article 259(1), which carries up to two years in prison and a heavier response.
What is the difference between possession and use?
Using drugs without a prescription, when the person holds nothing, is treated as an administrative offence rather than a crime. However, merely possessing, acquiring or storing the substance already triggers criminal liability under Article 259, regardless of whether it was meant for personal use.
Are CBD and industrial hemp also banned?
No, industrial hemp and its products with a very low THC content are not classed as narcotic substances and fall outside Article 259. Even so, you must check a product's composition carefully, because above the permitted THC concentration it is treated as a narcotic substance with all the consequences.
What are the long-term consequences of a record?
A criminal record is entered in registers and can be seen when a person's reputation is checked for employment, especially in the civil service or work with children. It can also make it harder to obtain visas to some countries, firearms or certain permits, so the consequences last far longer than the penalty itself.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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