Germany to partially legalise cannabis

Adult members of non-profit organisations, so-called “Cannabis-Social-Clubs”, would be allowed to buy up to 25 grams per day and up to 50 grams of cannabis per month. They would also be allowed to plant up to seven seeds or five cuttings of the hemp plant for personal consumption.

In the press conference this morning health minister Karl Lauterbach declared the aim of this new regulation is to make the consumption of cannabis safer. “Our aim is to tackle the black market, we want to reduce drug-related crimes.” He called the previous drug policy a failure.

According to the health ministry four million people have consumed cannabis in Germany in 2022.

Cem Özdemir, minister for agriculture, maintained: “The people who will not be happy today are the criminal and illegal dealers.” He also insisted on the fact that it will only be allowed for adults over the age of eighteen.

Initially, the governing coalition had planned for a further reaching legalisation and had presented a key point paper on this last October. However, this would probably contradict EU law as member states are obligated to criminalise the illegal trade in drugs such as cannabis.

In talks with the EU commission a compromise was reached. The sale of the substance could be tested in a few model regions in licensed shops and only for consumption purposes.

Legalising cannabis has been a key project for the governing coalition and the youth organisations of these parties in particular have been pushing for it for years.