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Germany legalizes cannabis
Germany has joined ranks legalizing cannabis.
FILE PHOTO: People meet for "World Stoner Day", a demonstration with joint smoke-in for the immediate decriminalization of cannabis, in Berlin, Germany April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben
On Friday, Germany joined a select group of nations and regions by passing legislation in the Bundestag to legalize cannabis. Under the new law proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, individuals and voluntary associations are permitted to cultivate and possess limited amounts of the substance.
The law specifically allows for the cultivation of up to three plants for personal use and the possession of up to 25 grammes of cannabis. It sanctions larger-scale non-commercial production for members of cannabis clubs, limited to 500 adult members each. Consumption of the produced cannabis is restricted to club members.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach outlined two main objectives: curbing the black market and enhancing safeguards for minors. However, opposition members, such as Christian Democrat legislator Tino Sorge, criticized the move, arguing it would exacerbate drug use among young people.
Lauterbach countered these claims by emphasizing the necessity of confronting the reality of increased cannabis usage among youth, highlighting the dangers posed to developing brains and the heightened risks associated with street drugs’ potency and purity.
Approximately 4.5 million Germans are estimated to use cannabis. With this legislation, Germany becomes the ninth country to legalize recreational cannabis use, joining others like the United States and Australia, where certain sub-national jurisdictions have also legalized it. While many nations permit cannabis for medical purposes, it remains illegal for minors and is prohibited in areas near schools and playgrounds.
Some lawmakers expressed skepticism regarding the law’s effectiveness in addressing the illicit market, suggesting that individuals unwilling to grow their own cannabis or join clubs may continue to purchase it illegally.
