Slovenia has so far been slower to modernize its cannabis policies compared to some of its European counterparts such as Malta and Germany. Still, there is an emerging domestic cannabis industry in Slovenia, largely based around CBD products.
Cannabis is not technically legal in Slovenia, although personal possession in considered to be a minor offense. The policy change came about in 2005 in order to alleviate the burden of cannabis prohibition on the nation’s court system.
According to Sensi Seeds, “Under Article 33 of the Production and Trade in Illicit Drugs Act, possession of cannabis is a minor offence. This means that offenders won’t receive a prison sentence but might have to pay a fine (between €42 and €209). If the individual agrees to enter treatment for cannabis use, or a Ministry of Health / Health Council-approved social security programme, the punishment may be more lenient.”
In April 2024, the Slovenian National Assembly decided to “call a referendum on the use of medical marijuana and possession and production for private use” according to initial reporting by STA.
Slovenia is already a well-established international research hub, and if policies are modernized to permit cannabis research and development, it’s quite possible that Slovenia could become a global cannabis industry leader for such activity.
According to Statista:
- The overall cannabis market in Slovenia is projected to reach a revenue of US$49.02m by the end of 2024, showing an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 3.79%, resulting in a market volume of US$59.03m by 2029
- Slovenia’s medical cannabis sector is projected to reach US$40.28m by the end of 2024, experiencing a steady annual growth rate of 4.06% from 2024 to 2029, resulting in a market volume of US$49.16m by the end of the forecast period
- In Slovenia, the revenue in the CBD products sector is estimated to reach US$6.86m in 2024 and experience an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 1.58%, leading to a market volume of US$7.42m by 2029