Germany has ushered in a groundbreaking change in its drug policy with the legalization of recreational cannabis use.
As of April 1, 2024, individuals over the age of 18 are permitted to consume marijuana.
The new law aims to decriminalize the use of cannabis and dismantle the black market.
Under the new regulations, German residents aged 18 and older can join nonprofit “cannabis clubs,” with a cap of 500 members each.
These clubs will be the primary source for obtaining cannabis, as individuals are allowed to purchase up to 25 grams per day or a maximum of 50 grams per month. The monthly limit is reduced to 30 grams for those under 21 years of age.
The law also permits the personal cultivation of cannabis, with households allowed to grow up to three plants. This provision is part of a broader strategy to combat the illicit drug trade and ensure the safety of cannabis consumers by providing access to regulated and uncontaminated products.
The law also designed controls to prevent easy access to the drug. Smoking cannabis near schools and sports grounds remains illegal, and the establishment of commercial cannabis cafes has been ruled out.
Germany’s Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach, has been a vocal advocate for the reforms, citing the need to protect young people from the dangers of unregulated street cannabis and to curb the influence of organized crime on the drug market. He said: ““We have two goals: to crack down on the black market and improved protection of children and young people.”
“Not only had cannabis use soared among young people, whose developing brains were particularly endangered, but drugs on the streets were both stronger and more impure nowadays, greatly increasing their harm.”
Germany joins a league of other countries that have legalized the use of cannabis for recreational purposes including Canada, Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, and Uruguay.
