Germany will partially legalize cannabis from April: it will be allowed to store and grow
Germans over 18 years of age will be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis. It will also be allowed to store up to 50 grams of cannabis at home and grow three plants in your home.
On Friday, Germany’s upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, paved the way for partial legalization of cannabis in the country.
The bill is supported by the German government and has already been approved by the lower house, the Bundestag. But there was a risk that its adoption could be disrupted by the Bundesrat, which consists of delegates from the governments of 16 German states, eurointegration.com.ua reports.
Some representatives in the Bundesrat argued that the law would have negative consequences. In particular, the federal states, led by the opposition bloc CDU/CSU, opposed it. However, the law could ultimately come into force in just a few days, on April 1, after it is signed by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, at which point the document will be officially published.
According to the law, adults over 18 years of age will be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis. It will also be allowed to store up to 50 grams of cannabis at home and grow three plants in your home. Smoking weed in public places will be prohibited in schools, sports facilities and within sight of them – in particular, within a radius of 100 meters from the entrance. From July 1, special cannabis associations will be able to grow and purchase cannabis in limited quantities. Such clubs can have up to 500 members.
No later than 18 months after the law comes into force, an initial assessment of its impact on the protection of children and young people will be provided. The German government says the new law will promote responsible cannabis use by providing for limited legal availability with numerous rules and regulations. There is no consensus in German society on such a move: the latest YouGov poll showed that about 47% of respondents partially or completely support it, while 42% partially or completely reject it.
