- German lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a government proposal to ease regulations on cannabis by allowing limited possession of the drug.
- Prime Minister Olaf Scholz’s cabinet has approved the plan, which is a key initiative of the ruling coalition.
- The bill proposes legalizing possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis and allowing cultivation of up to three plants for personal use.
German lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Friday on a government plan to liberalize cannabis regulations, which would decriminalize limited amounts of cannabis and make it impossible for members of “cannabis clubs” to buy marijuana for recreational purposes. become able to.
The vote in the lower house of parliament (Bundestag) came months after Prime Minister Olaf Scholz’s cabinet voted in favor of the plan. It is a prominent reform project of the social liberal coalition government. This is strongly opposed by the main conservative opposition parties, and some members of Scholz’s centre-left Social Democratic Party are also concerned about it.
The bill would make it legal for adults to possess up to 25 grams (nearly an ounce) of marijuana for recreational purposes and allow individuals to grow up to three marijuana plants themselves. That part of the bill is scheduled to go into effect on April 1.
Germany plans to decriminalize restricted marijuana possession and allow cannabis sales
Starting July 1, German residents over the age of 18 will be able to join non-profit “cannabis clubs” with up to 500 members. Clubs will be allowed to grow cannabis for the personal consumption of their members.
An employee shows a cannabis plant growing inside a box at the Cannabis Museum in Berlin, Germany, August 15, 2023. German lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Friday on a government plan to liberalize cannabis regulations that would decriminalize limited amounts of cannabis. marijuana use and allow members of “cannabis clubs” to purchase marijuana for recreational purposes. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
Individuals can purchase up to 25 grams per day or up to 50 grams per month, but those under 21 are limited to 30 grams. Belonging to more than one club is not permitted. The club’s expenses would be covered by membership fees, which would be paid in stages based on the amount of marijuana used by members.
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The government plans to ban advertising and sponsorship of cannabis, and clubbing and consumption will not be allowed in the immediate vicinity of schools, playgrounds or sports facilities. An evaluation of the law’s effectiveness on the protection of children and young people is to be carried out within 18 months of the law’s entry into force.
The plan falls far short of the government’s original goal of allowing cannabis sales to adults at licensed outlets across the country. The project was scaled back following consultation with the European Union Executive Committee.
