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full screen A cannabis plant in a museum in Berlin. Archive image. Photo: Markus Schreiber/AP/TT
Three plants at home and 25 grams in your pocket. It will become legal if Germany’s parliament says yes in today’s vote on a “partial” cannabis legalization.
Today, Germany is believed to be the third country in Europe to legalize cannabis for personal use. The proposal is not expected to face any opposition during the vote in the Bundestag, as it is described as a rather watered-down version of the plan that was originally put forward.
The change in the law means that cannabis is removed from the list of prohibited substances and that from April 1 adult Germans can have up to three plants in their homes. It will also be allowed to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis. At a later stage – probably sometime during the summer – Germans over the age of 18 will also be able to buy cannabis in licensed “cannabis clubs”.
The design of legalization has been hotly debated for several years. The proponents believe that the quality of cannabis will improve, that ordinary Germans will not be labeled as criminals and that the cannabis clubs will put a damper on today’s hookers.
– With the cannabis clubs and home cultivation, the demand on the black market will decrease drastically, says Burkhard Blienert, responsible for drug issues in the government, to the media company RND before the vote.
Critics fear that the result will be the opposite, writes Der Spiegel, and that the whole thing will be difficult to control. The concerns apply above all to young users.
Around seven million Germans are estimated to use cannabis regularly, according to official figures. Governments around the world are eagerly expected to follow Germany’s legalization to see how it works in practice, writes The Guardian.