Medical cannabis in Greece for visitors — the complete guide
Medical cannabis has been legal in Greece since 2017, and since February 2024 licensed pharmacies have been dispensing it in practice on a doctor's prescription. A cannabis licence from another country is not valid in Greece, and flying in with cannabis is strictly prohibited. The only lawful route for a visitor: a prescription from a doctor licensed in Greece — a process you can now complete online, and if the doctor approves, in up to an hour during working hours on the VIP track, without leaving your hotel. The prescription is valid at any licensed pharmacy in Greece for up to 30 days, and what you buy in Greece stays in Greece.
Is medical cannabis legal in Greece? What the law actually says
Greece regulated medical cannabis in legislation back in 2017, but in practice it took years for the market to find its feet. The real turning point came in February 2024, when licensed pharmacies across the country began dispensing locally produced medical cannabis products on a doctor's prescription. In other words: today it is not merely "legal on paper" — it works on the ground.
Three things are important to understand about the Greek framework:
- Only on prescription. Using, possessing or buying without a doctor's prescription remains a criminal offence — for visitors too. There are no Amsterdam-style coffee shops in Greece.
- The prescription must be Greek. A doctor licensed in Greece is the only person authorised to issue a prescription that local pharmacies will honour.
- Visitors are eligible too. The law does not restrict prescriptions to Greek citizens — the medical assessment is made against a passport, and that is precisely what allows visitors to receive lawful treatment during their stay.
Can I fly into Greece with cannabis from home? (Spoiler: no)
Even if you hold a valid medical cannabis licence at home — it is a document of that country, and it confers no rights in Greece. Bringing cannabis into Greek territory without prior authorisation from the Greek National Organization for Medicines (EOF) is a drugs offence in every sense, and the risk starts at your departure airport and ends at customs in Athens.
The simple, lawful alternative: arrive "clean", and arrange a local prescription — either in advance from home, or on the first day of your trip.
Want the full picture — what is required on each of the two sides, and why a certified translation of a licence is not a permit? Read Flying to Greece with medical cannabis — what's allowed and what isn't.
How do you get a cannabis prescription in Greece? Three routes
1. An in-person appointment with a Greek doctor
Possible, but unrealistic for most visitors: you need to find a doctor who works with medical cannabis, get an appointment in high season, travel to the clinic in person, and get through the consultation in Greek or in medical English. That can burn a whole day of your trip — and sometimes several days of waiting.
2. An international digital service
There are online services that connect visitors with Greek doctors. They operate in English and are built for a general international audience — without familiarity with the specific needs of any one group of travellers, including the prohibition on taking product home.
3. A digital service built for you — where we come in
CanaFlight is built from the ground up for visitors: a 3-minute questionnaire, a doctor licensed in Greece who reviews the request remotely, and a digital prescription delivered by email and WhatsApp — up to an hour during working hours on the VIP track, up to 24 hours on Fast, or one to two weeks on Basic, depending on the track you choose. You can complete the questionnaire before you fly and land in Greece with the prescription ready. And if the doctor does not approve? A full refund.
What you get at the pharmacy, and what it costs
With a digital prescription and your passport, you go to any licensed pharmacy and receive regulated products of Greek manufacture. Payment is made directly at the pharmacy:
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Medical cannabis flower (per gram) | about €9–15 |
| Medical cannabis oil | varies by concentration and volume |
| CanaFlight coordination service (one-off) | 169–349 ₪ |
The pharmacy price is set by the pharmacy and is not within our control; the figures above are current as of today and may change. The concentration, quantity and dosage are determined by the licensed doctor alone and subject to Greek regulation — they are not selected by the patient. THC concentrations and pack sizes at Greek pharmacies vary; the figures commonly seen today (roughly 9% to 31%, in packs of 5 or 10 grams) are illustrative only and may vary between pharmacies and over time. A prescription is valid for redemption for up to 30 days from issue.
Where does it work? Not just Athens
The prescription is digital and valid at any licensed pharmacy in the country — Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Zakynthos and Halkidiki. Even on a proper island-hopping trip, one prescription covers the whole route.
The golden rules: how not to get into trouble
- Use in private accommodation only — a hotel or a holiday apartment. Not on the beach, not in the street, not in a taverna.
- Zero driving under the influence — exactly as with alcohol, and Greek enforcement is not forgiving.
- Prescription and passport on you at all times whenever you buy or carry the product.
- Nothing flies home. Importing cannabis into your home country may well be a criminal offence — what is bought in Greece is finished in Greece.
Before you apply: what matters to raise with the doctor
Medical cannabis is not suitable for everyone, and the medical decision — including whether it is appropriate at all, the concentration and the dosage — rests with the licensed doctor alone, on the basis of the information you provide. It is important to raise any relevant information with the doctor, including:
- The process is intended for those aged 18 and over only.
- It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Particular caution is required with a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia or another mental health condition.
- It may interact with other medication you take — tell the doctor about it.
- Do not drive or operate machinery under the influence of cannabis.
The information in this section is general, is intended to draw your attention to matters worth raising with the doctor, and does not constitute medical advice or a substitute for it.
Questions we haven't answered yet
How much cannabis can I buy with the prescription?
The quantity, concentration and dosage are determined by the licensed doctor alone and subject to Greek regulation — they are not selected by the patient. THC concentrations and pack sizes at Greek pharmacies vary (the figures commonly seen today are roughly 9% to 31% and packs of 5 or 10 grams, illustrative only and subject to change). A prescription is valid for up to 30 days.
Do I need to speak Greek or English?
With us — the questionnaire and support are handled in your language. At the pharmacy, basic English is enough: you present the prescription and your passport, and that's it.
What is the difference between medical and recreational in Greece?
Only medical cannabis on prescription is lawful. Recreational use without a prescription remains an offence — which is why the prescription is not a formality, it is your legal protection.
Is the Greek prescription valid in other European countries?
No. The prescription is valid in Greece only, and as noted — taking products out of Greek borders is prohibited to any destination.
Ready? 3 minutes and it's under way
Fill in the questionnaire — a licensed Greek doctor reviews it — and if approved, your prescription arrives in up to an hour during working hours on the VIP track.
Start the questionnaire →