Germany’s Bundesrat, its upper house of Parliament, passed legislation surmounting the last hurdle to the partial legalization of the possession of cannabis for personal use on Friday. The new law will take effect on April 1.
Adults aged 18 and over will be permitted to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis daily and cultivate up to three cannabis plants at home. Although now legal for adults, the sale of cannabis to, and its consumption by, minors will still be illegal.
Smoking cannabis in public areas, including schools and sports facilities, remains illegal anywhere within a 100-meter radius of such locations.
Under the new law, adults are allowed to form cannabis social clubs with up to 500 members. They can grow and exchange cannabis among themselves, limited to 50 grams per member per month. However, some legal amendments are still required to set up these clubs, a process which is expected to be completed before July 1.
“This is the first step on the road to a rational and science-based drugs policy,” Steffen Geyer, Director of Berlin’s Hemp Museum, a permanent exhibition of the cannabis plant, commented on the new law.
The bill’s approval came after heated discussions among the coalition government’s members.
In the lead-up to the vote, Karl Lauterbach, the Health Minister and one of the bill’s supporters, urged legislators to back the bill, citing concerns about the increasing use of the black market among young people.
Simone Borchardt, a member of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), accused the coalition government of prioritizing ideology over the country’s well-being, warning of increased health risks if the legislation passed.
The European Union opposed the coalition’s initial proposal to allow cannabis sales in shops. Despite this defeat, the coalition is considering another proposal enabling cannabis sales in particular regions.
Supporters of the law, such as the German Cannabis Association claim that regulated cannabis will reduce the risks associated with black market products, which might contain dangerous substances.
However, health experts who oppose the bill cautioned of the potential dangers associated with cannabis consumption, particularly among adolescents. Experts have raised concerns about the effects on brain development, increased risk of psychosis, and additional implications for health.