Although Germany’s ruling coalition is now slowing down legislation, the use of cannabis in Germany will continue to be subject to several restrictions.
In the future, Germans will be able to possess a maximum of 50 grams of cannabis and cultivate three marijuana plants.
The lower house of the German parliament approved the law on the legalization of cannabis on Friday.
407 MPs voted for the legal initiative and 226 against. Four legislators did not vote.
The law enters into force on April 1.
In Germany’s coalition government, the legal initiative was supported by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the center-right FDP and the Greens.
The German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) opposed the legal initiative.
The German government approved a bill to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in August of last year.
You can only get cannabis from non-profit organizations
The new cannabis law allows possession of 25 grams in a public place.
In the future, non-profit cultivation cooperatives, or so-called cannabis clubs, will be allowed to give their members a maximum of 50 grams of cannabis per month.
For 18- to 21-year-olds, cultivation communities are allowed to give away a maximum of 30 grams of cannabis per month.
After the reform entered into force, the use of cannabis is still prohibited in many places.
For example, the use of cannabis is prohibited at a distance of 200 meters from farming associations, schools, youth facilities, playgrounds and public sports venues.
In the future, non-profit cultivation associations will be allowed to grow cannabis in special fenced areas.
Private individuals, on the other hand, are allowed to grow a maximum of three cannabis plants for personal consumption.
According to critics, it is difficult to control the use of cannabis
Chancellor of Germany By Olaf Scholz the government has reasoned that by legalizing cannabis, they want to eradicate the dark trade, reduce drug crime and the sale of impure drugs.
According to a Yougov survey, around 47 percent of Germans supported the legalization of cannabis in part or in full, while 42 percent of respondents opposed the legal initiative, German DW reported on Friday.
Among the parties, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) opposed the legalization of cannabis.
According to the CDU, monitoring laws restricting the use or cultivation of cannabis would burden the authorities and encourage people to experiment with drugs.
Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach responded to the criticism by saying that the government is planning a campaign about the harmful effects of smoking cannabis.
Cannabis use is not punished in many EU countries
In addition to Germany, cannabis has been decriminalized in more than 20 EU countries.
Several EU countries allow I use cannabis mostly for medical reasons or in small amounts.
For example, in Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Luxembourg and Portugal, the use of cannabis is not punished.
The most well-known country with a neutral attitude towards cannabis is probably the Netherlands, which legalized the use of cannabis in special cafes already in the 1970s.
In Malta, an adult can possess a maximum of seven grams of cannabis and grow four marijuana plants at home.
The cultivation, sale or possession of drugs is still prohibited in many European countries, but the situation is changing.
For example, TÅ¡ekki is in the process of relaxing the legislation related to the possession of cannabis.
In Finland, cannabis is classified as a narcotic. Its manufacture, import, export, transport, trade, possession and use are prohibited by law.
Sources: AP, AFP