Buying up to 50 grams of cannabis per month or having three plants at home will no longer be prohibited in Germany from the end of this year. The so-called cannabis clubs will also be authorized, non-profit and with capacity for up to 500 members, who will be able to plant it there. It will be sold on a limited basis, with quantities of up to 50 grams per month for those over 21 years of age or 30 grams for adults between 18 and 21 years of age. For minors it will continue to be prohibited.
The regulation was presented by the Minister of Health, the Social Democrat Karl Lauterbachand that of Agriculture, green Cem Ozdemir. The first, who worked as a doctor before entering politics and was a regular presence in gatherings during the pandemic as a hard-line defender against covid, was in the past against the legalization of cannabis. He considered that its consumption could be harmful among young people.
Özdemir also gave rise to talk in the past due to his relationship with cannabis. In his case, when it was revealed in a video released by himself the presence of a cannabis plant on your balcony. That was nine years ago, but in Germany the commotion caused by that video with the member of the Bundestag (Parliament) with the prohibited plant is still remembered.
In the coalition pact
At that time there was no talk of decriminalizing the recreational use of this substance in Germany. With the rise to power of the Social Democrat Olaf Scholzwith the Verdes and the liberals as allies, was included in the coalition pact the purpose of its legalization. The three partners shared that opinion. Lauterbach has been responsible for implementing the bill, while Özdemir will be in charge of regulating its cultivation.
It will be a consumption, possession and sale absolutely regulated and in order to combat his black market. It can only be purchased in stores with the corresponding license, although possession of up to three plants at home will be allowed. Nor may joints be smoked in the vicinity of schools, nurseries or pedestrian areas before 8:00 p.m., according to the document presented by the ministers.
Lauterbach had presented a less restrictive draft in 2022. But he subsequently modified it, after submitting it to prior consultation with the European Commission (EC) to avoid stumbling blocks with community regulations.
Together with the prohibition for those under 18 years of age, it will also continue to authorize no type of advertising about cannabis clubs or other possibilities of consumption, cultivation, etc. “Cannabis use exists. Criminalizing it has not succeeded in diverting people from its use, but has only managed to generate a black market,” Özdemir summed up.