Parliament vote
The German parliament voted in favor of allowing personal use of cannabis within limits. The opposition and some experts are against it. What is now allowed and what remains prohibited?
For supporters, the Bundestag's decision marks the end of criminalization, while opponents see an increased risk that young people may start using hard drugs. Thanks to the combined votes of the ruling center-left coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and business-oriented Free Democrats (FDP), as well as support from the Left Party, the Bundestag in March approved the partial liberalization of cannabis use in Germany.
From April 1, 2024, people over the age of 18 were allowed to possess and carry up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use. Moreover, cannabis enthusiasts will be able to grow up to three cannabis plants at home and store up to 50 grams of dried cannabis.
Many consumers, politicians and health experts have long called for small quantities of cannabis to be allowed so that police don't waste resources on minor offenses. In the coalition agreement for 2021, the three governing parties supported the idea and wrote, "We are introducing the controlled supply of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed stores."
However, the law proposed by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) does not yet mention licensed stores.
Initially, the government plans to allow and regulate private consumption to reduce the burden on the police and judiciary. As of July 1, private clubs with up to 500 members can collectively grow cannabis and distribute it to their members.
Commercial stores, as in some US states, will not yet be allowed, although the possibility has been considered. Cannabis use will be banned near schools, kindergartens, public playgrounds and sports facilities, as well as on pedestrian areas in city centers between 7am and 8pm.
Legalization in other EU countries
Germany is not the first European country to relax the regulation of cannabis use. The use of small amounts of cannabis has long been decriminalized in Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Belgium and the Netherlands. Nevertheless, certain regulations remain in place. In the Netherlands, for example, cannabis possession is not permitted, and consumption is only possible in famous coffee shops. Visitors to these establishments must be of legal age and be able to prove it.
Cannabis use has indeed increased recently, especially among young people between the ages of 18 and 25. According to the latest data from the Federal Center for Health Education, in 2021, half of young people have already used cannabis. This figure was so high more than 50 years ago.
The government is also planning to introduce an amnesty for previously punishable cases. This prompted Sven Reben, managing director of the German Union of Judges, to opine "The judiciary expects to handle up to 100,000 cases nationwide." Thus, the issue of cannabis remains a thorny one in Germany even after the first step towards legal consumption.
WARNING! Errors Seeds does not encourage or encourage you to grow cannabis. Cultivation is prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine. The article is only of scientific and educational interest.
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