With Malta and Luxembourg already having legalised cannabis for personal use, Germany is about to follow suit, signalling a dramatic change in drug laws. The measure, which seeks to remove cannabis from the list of narcotics that are prohibited, was the subject of a heated debate in parliament before this decision. Under the new legislation, adults will be able to possess up to 25 grammes of cannabis in public and keep up to 50 grams at home under the new legislation.
Cannabis legalization legislation
Karl Lauterbach, the German Health Minister, has stressed that the goal of legalisation is to prevent drug trafficking because it has been reported that an estimated 7 million Germans regularly use cannabis. The government expects that legalising cannabis will also improve the quality of cannabis available, while realising that certain users need it for medical grounds. Lauterbach emphasised the law’s emphasis on safeguarding children and young people, noting a worrisome increase in cannabis use among these groups during the previous ten years.
As per their power-sharing arrangement, the Social Democrats, Greens, and the pro-business FDP comprised the coalition government, and the measure was on its agenda. Legalization of marijuana has been a subject of controversy for quite some time now, but many states are soon beginning to realize that the pros outweigh the cons.
The law’s execution will entail the creation of non-profit clubs dedicated to the distribution and cultivation of cannabis. Adults will first be permitted to grow up to three plants and own modest amounts of cannabis as of April 1. They will be able to buy the medicine from authorised clubs after three months.
The law prohibits minors under the age of eighteen from using cannabis at all, and it has provisions to discourage cannabis consumption among minors. The maximum amount of cannabis that can be purchased by those between the ages of 18 and 21 will be 30 grams, with a maximum THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content of 10%.
Addressing Concerns and Challenges
Concerns about cannabis usage close to children prompted Minister Lauterbach to declare that smoking the drug is prohibited within 100 metres of educational facilities. In his discussion of law enforcement issues, he brought out the difficulty of monitoring the sale of illegal drugs.
Legalisation of cannabis is a part of a larger European trend towards more progressive drug laws. Germany’s decision is probably going to have an impact both locally and regionally, possibly influencing how other European countries regulate cannabis. Germany wants to find a balance between addressing public health concerns and minimising the negative effects of cannabis use by legalising and regulating the illicit drug sale.
