In Greece, cannabis remains illegal for recreational use as of 2025, though medical cannabis has been legal since 2017, with production and export permitted under strict regulations (Sensi Seeds, 2021). The 1890 ban on hashish, noted in historical records, marked the start of prohibition, driven by international pressures rather than domestic opposition (Journal of Policy History, 2015).
The history of cannabis use in Greece before its prohibition in 1890 provides a rich backdrop for understanding its cultural and economic significance, but the modern landscape of recreational cannabis use and its macroeconomic and community impacts is equally compelling, particularly in regions where it has been legalized.
Greece’s economy, projected to grow at 2.1% in 2025 with a focus on tourism and services (Reuters, 2025), could theoretically benefit from recreational cannabis legalization, as seen in other countries. For example:
- Tourism Boost: Legal cannabis could attract tourists, similar to Amsterdam’s coffee shop model, enhancing Greece’s 20% GDP from tourism.
- Tax Revenue: Greece’s 147.5% debt-to-GDP ratio could be alleviated by cannabis taxes, mirroring Colorado’s US$2.4 billion (Investopedia, 2024).
- Job Creation: With 8.6% unemployment, a cannabis industry could create jobs, as seen in New York’s 30,700 estimate (Rockefeller Institute, 2019).
The global recreational cannabis market has grown significantly, driven by legalization in countries like the United States, Canada, Uruguay, and parts of Europe. Below are the most recent macroeconomic statistics, primarily for 2025, based on available data:
- Global Market Size:
- The worldwide recreational cannabis market is projected to reach US$38.32 billion in revenue by 2025, with an expected annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.04% from 2025 to 2029, leading to a market volume of US$43.19 billion by 2029 (Statista, 2022).
- The United States leads, with an estimated US$26.82 billion in recreational cannabis revenue in 2025, accounting for ~70% of the global market. Per capita, this translates to US$1.59k in revenue (Statista, 2022).
- In comparison, the total cannabis market (including medical and recreational) is projected to grow from US$57.18 billion in 2023 to US$444.34 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 34.03% (Fortune Business Insights, 2023).
- U.S. Market Growth:
- As of 2025, 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational cannabis, with 54% of Americans living in these states (Pew Research Center, 2024).
- The U.S. cannabis industry (recreational and medical) is expected to reach US$76.39 billion by 2030, with recreational use comprising 66.9% of the market in 2024 (The Marijuana Herald, 2025).
- In 2024, the U.S. generated over US$20 billion in cannabis tax revenue, surpassing the alcohol industry’s US$9.6 billion (Flowhub, 2025).
- Tax Revenue:
- California led U.S. states with US$1.1 billion in cannabis sales tax revenue in 2023, while Washington (legal since 2012) collected US$4.1 billion from 2014 to 2023, and Colorado amassed US$2.4 billion through March 2024 (Investopedia, 2024).
- Missouri, which began recreational sales in February 2023, recorded US$3.2 billion in adult-use sales by 2025, outpacing markets like Arizona and Colorado (Flowhub, 2025).
- In Canada, cannabis tax revenues have supported social services, with CAD$1.8 billion collected from 2018 to 2022 (Statistics Canada, 2023).
- Job Creation:
- The U.S. cannabis industry employed 121,000 to 150,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2018, with projections for significant growth by 2025 (Rockefeller Institute, 2019).
- In New York, a proposed recreational cannabis industry was estimated to generate 30,700 jobs and US$4.1 billion in economic output (Rockefeller Institute, 2019).
- Globally, companies like Curaleaf and Canopy Growth are expanding, with innovations in “cannatech” (e.g., Dutchie, valued at US$400 million in 2024) creating tech-related jobs (Investopedia, 2025).
- Consumer Spending:
- In the U.S., 22.2 million Americans (8.3% of those 12 and older) reported past-month cannabis use in 2015, with 89.5% citing recreational use (NCBI, 2021).
- By 2022, 17% to 22% of Americans reported past-year cannabis use, with states like Vermont (highest at ~35%) and Oregon (~32%) leading (Statista, 2024).
- Online retail and delivery services have boosted accessibility, with platforms like Cannazon reporting US$5.04 million in sales from January to March 2020 (Fortune Business Insights, 2023).
- In the U.S., 22.2 million Americans (8.3% of those 12 and older) reported past-month cannabis use in 2015, with 89.5% citing recreational use (NCBI, 2021).
Community Effects of Recreational Cannabis Legalization
Legalization of recreational cannabis has had varied impacts on communities, with both positive and negative outcomes. Below are key effects, supported by recent studies:
Positive Impacts
- Economic Stimulation:
- Legalization creates jobs and boosts local economies. In Denver, Colorado, a study found that new dispensaries within a half-mile radius increased home prices by 7.7%, reflecting economic vitality (NORML, 2021).
- Tax revenues fund social programs. For example, Oregon’s cannabis taxes (exceeding expectations by 7% in 2017–2019) support education, health, and community reinvestment (NORML, 2021).
- Missouri’s rapid market growth (US$3.2 billion in sales since 2023) has spurred local business development (Flowhub, 2025).
- Criminal Justice Reform:
- Legalization reduces cannabis-related arrests. A 2021 study found that recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) decreased drug-related arrests over three to four years, though racial disparities persist (NORML, 2021).
- 42% of Americans believe legalization makes the criminal justice system fairer, compared to 18% who say it’s less fair (Flowhub, 2025).
- However, youth arrests for underage use remain a challenge, with no significant reduction post-legalization (PMC, 2023).
- Public Health Benefits:
- Medical cannabis, often a precursor to recreational legalization, improves quality of life. A 2024 study in Clinical Therapeutics found 91% of military veterans reported better quality of life with medical cannabis (Flowhub, 2025).
- Legalization shifts consumption to regulated products, reducing risks from illicit markets. In Canada, youth cannabis use did not significantly increase post-2018 legalization (NORML, 2021).
In 2025, the global recreational cannabis market is thriving, with US$38.32 billion in revenue and the U.S. leading at US$26.82 billion (Statista, 2022). Legalization drives economic benefits, including US$20 billion in U.S. tax revenue, job creation, and local business growth, but communities face challenges like health risks, persistent racial disparities in enforcement, and youth access concerns (Flowhub, 2025; PMC, 2023). Greece, with no recreational cannabis market, misses these economic opportunities but avoids associated risks.
