Buzz
Sometimes, life can feel limiting. While we do have the right to seek life and happiness, there are restrictions. If your joy involves driving a tank while naked and on LSD, however, those freedoms begin to dwindle.
Luckily, with around 196 countries worldwide, each having its own unique values and laws, you’ll find a place where what you want to do is considered perfectly acceptable by the locals.
10. Strut Around Naked in Spain
Spain is famous for its nude beaches. Both locals and travelers from across the globe rush to Spain’s many clothing-optional beaches, ready to embrace the freedom of being fully exposed without the worry of law enforcement asking them to cover up.
However, what many don’t know is that you don’t even have to go to a designated nude beach. In Spain, it’s completely legal to be naked in any public space you desire.
Since 1978, the Spanish constitution has not only granted its citizens the right to walk around in the nude—but it has established it as an unalienable human right. Though there have been efforts to alter this law, none have been successful so far.
9. Experiment with Every Drug Available in Portugal
Portugal has decriminalized all drugs. This doesn’t mean they are fully legal—if you’re caught with substances, you may be referred to a counselor. However, you won’t face prison time for possessing personal quantities, whether it’s marijuana or cocaine.
Portugal’s approach appears to be effective. Prior to decriminalization, they faced a serious addiction issue, with one in every 100 people hooked on heroin. But within four years of the policy, drug-related deaths dropped by almost 90 percent, and HIV rates saw a sharp decline.
8. Attach a Flamethrower to Your Car in South Africa
In South Africa, there’s a product called the “Blaster”—a flamethrower capable of shooting flames up to 20 meters (65 feet), specifically designed to be attached to your car. The flames spread out on both sides of the vehicle, and according to advertisements, it won’t damage your car’s paint. Best of all, it’s completely legal.
At its peak, South Africa was dealing with about 13,000 carjackings annually, which led to the country passing laws that allow you to defend yourself by killing anyone attempting to break into your vehicle. However, the inventor claims it’s unlikely to actually kill someone—it’s more likely to blind them instead.
The Blaster was introduced in 1998 and has since been discontinued, but not because it’s illegal. It was simply due to lack of demand. Nevertheless, anyone determined enough might still be able to find one secondhand—or even launch their own flamethrower car business.
7. Marry a Dog in India
In India, you have the legal right to marry any animal you choose. While dogs seem to be the most common choice, they’re not the only option available.
One man from New Delhi shared his story: As a child, he had cruelly stoned and hanged two dogs, and later in life, he believed the ailments he suffered were retribution for his actions. Seeking guidance, he consulted a local astrologer, who told him that to lift the curse, he had only one option—marrying a dog.
His family gave their full support. They even helped him select the perfect dog to become his wife. The family then arranged a grand wedding celebration, with a feast, to mark the unbreakable bond between man and dog.
6. Steal Art in The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, if you happen to steal an invaluable piece of art, you don’t need to worry about offloading it through illegal channels. With a little patience, the stolen masterpiece can become legally yours. After 20 years, the statute of limitations on property theft expires, and they simply make the stolen item officially belong to whoever possesses it.
However, it’s a bit more complicated if the artwork is part of a public collection or is classified as a national treasure. For these high-profile pieces, you must wait 30 years before you’re free of any repercussions. But it’s still quite feasible. Art theft isn’t a high priority for law enforcement, so if you manage to stash a Rembrandt in your attic for a few decades, it’ll eventually become your legal property.
5. Get a Government Employee to Help You Inject Heroin in Canada
In downtown Vancouver, you'll come across InSite, a government facility where individuals can legally use heroin under the supervision of medical professionals.
Visitors must bring their own drugs to enter, but there is no risk of legal trouble, and people are allowed to use an alias. Inside, there are 12 injection booths, each with a clean needle and sterile tools. The medical staff is present mainly to monitor users, ensuring safety in case of overdose, but they can also assist in locating veins if necessary.
This initiative began 20 years ago when Vancouver had the highest HIV rate among developed countries. It has proven to be very successful, with some individuals returning multiple times a day.
4. Selling Your Kidney in Iran
In Iran, it's common for individuals to post advertisements around town, offering their kidneys for sale. These ads typically include the seller's blood type and contact number, but some go further. Brightly colored posters are used to attract attention, and some sellers even display medical test results to prove the health of their kidney. There are also reports of competitors tearing down each other's ads to ensure that their own gets noticed when someone is in need of a kidney.
Though the practice is controversial, some believe it's a valuable contribution to Iran's healthcare system. Since the country legalized kidney sales, waiting lists for donors have been completely eliminated.
3. Drive a Tank in England
While England isn't the only country where you can drive a tank, it is one of many places in the U.S. that offer armored vehicle rides—some even letting people crush cars or drive through mobile homes.
However, England takes it to the next level—tanks in England are road legal. You can take a tank out for a spin wherever you like, whether it's to run errands at the grocery store or to pick up your children from school.
To drive your tank on the road, you must deactivate the weapons and fit rubber tracks on the wheels, but once those modifications are made, you’re free to take your tank wherever you please. And people do! One individual even created a "Tank Limo," which picks up customers and takes them to any destination they choose, allowing teenagers in England to make a truly unforgettable entrance at prom.
2. Own a Minigun in the United States
While it’s widely known that Americans have fought for and secured the right to carry assault rifles, you might be surprised to learn how far these rights extend. In fact, in the United States, you can even purchase a minigun.
Miniguns, originally designed for mowing down large numbers of enemy soldiers, can fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute—and you could own one yourself. A loophole in the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act made it technically legal for U.S. citizens to purchase a minigun for personal home protection.
To own one, you need a Class 2 license, and they are expensive and not easy to find. However, anyone determined enough can get their hands on a weapon that was originally built for use against the Viet Cong to protect their own home.
1. Self-Identify as a Dragon in Russia
If you truly believe it, you can identify as a dragon anywhere. No one can stop you from introducing yourself as Smoltar, the Golden-Scaled Dragon of the Dwarven Pass. However, in most places, you can’t compel others to accept you as a dragon—except in Russia.
In Russia, during the census, individuals have the freedom to identify as any ethnicity they choose, even if it doesn't exist. Many young people select identities like elves or hobbits, while older individuals may opt for Martians. Whatever is written down is taken as a fact by the Census Bureau, with no questions asked.
This unique flexibility has, in some cases, proven beneficial. In certain southern regions, people have used this freedom to identify as Coassacks—an ethnic group that isn't typically offered as an option on the census.
