Germany will legalize marijuana on Monday

On Monday, the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz will implement a key promise by partially legalizing cannabis in Germany.

Accessing the medication won’t be simple, though.

The updated guidelines are as follows:

April Fool?

Commencing on April 1, individuals may lawfully possess up to 25 grams of dehydrated cannabis for personal consumption, which is approximately 80 joints, depending on consumption patterns.

There will be restrictions on home cultivation, including a maximum of three plants per adult and 50 grams of dried cannabis.

Nonetheless, smoking the substance will still be forbidden within a 100-meter radius of public sports facilities, playgrounds, kindergartens, and schools.

Moreover, smoking will not be permitted in pedestrian areas from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

‘Cannabis clubs’

Germany intends to establish controlled cannabis farming associations on July 1st in order to facilitate the lawful acquisition of cannabis by individuals.

Each of these so-called cannabis clubs is limited to 500 members, and each member may purchase up to 50 grams of dried cannabis each month.

Adults under the age of 21 are only allowed to consume up to 30 grams of cannabis each month, with no more than 10% of the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present.

Membership will be restricted to one club at a time, and gatherings and cannabis consumption will not be permitted in the clubs.

No tourists

Cannabis will only be legally obtained through home cultivation or cannabis clubs, and access to these choices will only be granted to individuals who have been in Germany for a minimum of six months.

The limitations are meant to assuage opposition parties’ concerns that the new law would promote “drug tourism,” particularly those of the conservative CDU-CSU alliance.

The EU rebuffed the administration of Scholz’s Social Democrats, the Greens, and the pro-business FDP when they first promised to go beyond and permit cannabis to be sold in stores.

A second law to test the drug’s sale in stores or pharmacies in specific areas is now being developed.

Criticism

The administration maintains that because the new law will address the issue of tainted substances on the illicit market, it will lessen the health dangers related to cannabis.

However, health organizations and medical associations have harshly criticized the measure.

Additionally, regional authorities tasked with monitoring its implementation have expressed dissatisfaction with it.

They worry that having to overturn prison sentences and fines already issued for offenses that are no longer punishable by the new rule will burden them with further red tape.

The head of the opposition conservatives, Friedrich Merz, has already threatened to “cancel the law immediately” if his party were to retake power following the 2025 elections.

AFP