From April, when the new law comes into effect, people over 18 years of age will be allowed to grow up to three cannabis plants at home for their own consumption or possess 50 grams of dried flowers in their private space.
The Lower House of the German Parliament (Bundestag) approved this Friday the legalization of the possession and consumption of up to 50 grams of cannabis, subject, however, to a series of restrictions.
The bill, submitted by the Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbachin April last year, has been the subject of significant controversy and, in a heavily modified version, has received votes in favor of the deputies of the governing coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals, as well as the left.
The Christian Democratic opposition and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), on the other hand, voted against.
“I myself was against legalization for years, but it is science that now says that we must follow this path,” Social Democrat Lauterbach emphasized in his speech.
The minister has argued for avoiding this “Punitivism and taboos” and for not criminalizing the young people whose lives we have destroyed because we failed to protect them from the black market.
From AprilWhen the new law comes into effect, persons over 18 years of age will be allowed to grow a maximum of three cannabis plants at home for their own consumption or possess 50 grams of dried flowers in their private space (maximum 25 grams if in public spaces).
In addition, from July the creation of ‘Clubs’ with a maximum of 500 members who can grow cannabis collectively and non-commercially and exchange it among themselves for private consumption.
On the other hand, the phrases for ownership or self-cultivation this will be up to quantities of 25 grams deleted of the criminal records of those convicted retroactively.
Consumption in public will be subject to a series of restrictions as it remains illegal within a radius of 100 meters from the entry points to education centers and sports facilities.
No later than 18 months after the entry into force of the new law: research to determine what effect it has on the health of children and adolescents.
Source: EITB
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