Germany’s parliament has legalized the possession of cannabis for recreational use for those over 18. On Friday, the Bundestag approved new legislation that allows adults to smoke cannabis in public spaces with possession of up to 25g and 50g in private residences. From 1 April, the new rules are scheduled to come into effect. The BBC reports that smoking cannabis near sports grounds and schools will be banned under the new law.
The possession of cannabis for personal use has previously been banned under German law, with the exception of some cases where police ignored such actions. Cannabis will be sold and grown in limited quantities by “cannabis social clubs” – non-commercial members organisations – for which membership will be available solely to German residents. Membership will not permit on-site consumption. Households will be allowed to possess and grow up to three cannabis plants. However, as per the BBC, the law will not result in the immediate growth of legal cannabis cafes across the nation.
As usage among young Germans is reportedly rising, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has said he wishes to eliminate revenue from illegal markets distributing the drug and protect users from contaminated cannabis by introducing the new legislation. The German government intends to review and evaluate the effects of the law, leading to the eventual licensed sale of cannabis.
The legalisation of cannabis has been a contentious topic in Germany for quite a while, and discussions over its legality have been ongoing since it first entered the public sphere in 2021 under the new coalition government. Nevertheless, even if the new legislation has been approved, it still faces criticism from some members of the German coalition, with Simone Borchardt from the conservative CDU citing warnings from doctors, police, and psychotherapists against it, according to the BBC.
According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), five EU members, including the Netherlands, Czechia, Luxembourg, Malta, and Switzerland, are now introducing or planning to introduce recreational cannabis use
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