Germans sparked their blunts when the news was made official at midnight (Pictures: AP/Reuters/Shutterstock)
Celebrations reminiscent of that after the Berlin Wall fell were seen in Germany’s capitol after the country liberalised rules on cannabis.
Sparking up celebratory joints, campaigners celebrated the new legislation which allows users to possess small amounts of cannabis.
And it spells good news for those who were formerly convicted on cannabis-related offences: the legislation also introduces an amnesty, meaning previous cases are to be reviewed and in many cases reversed.
But the victory is not without issues- authorities have already voiced concerns that the judicial system will be overwhelmed by thousands of cases set to be reviewed.
Christian Democratic leader Friedrich Merz has vowed that his party will reverse the legislation if it wins national elections expected in the autumn of 2025.
But what do the new laws exactly entail? Let’s dive deeper.
The new rules
The drug is now partially legalised in Germany (Picture: Shutterstock)
A cloud of smoke rose from the crowd when the news was made official (Picture: AP)
The new law legalises possession by adults of up to 25 grams of marijuana for recreational purposes and allows individuals to grow up to three plants.
German residents aged 18 and older will be allowed to join non-profit ‘cannabis clubs’ with a maximum of 500 members each starting on July 1.
Within each club, cannabis can be distributed among members, and the clubs’ costs will be covered by membership fees, which are to be staggered according to how much marijuana members use.
Smoking the plant in public is also allowed, so long as it’s 100 metres away from schools, playgrounds and sports centres and not in the ‘immediate proximity’ of minors.
David Henn, founder of Cannamedical, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Amid all the enthusiasm, it’s crucial we uphold our duty to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society, namely children. I’m confident that both patients and consumers possess a strong sense of responsibility in this regard.’
A boost for the economy?
The decriminalisation of weed in Germany is a step forward, supporters say (Picture: AP)
With the new legislation, Germany will become the third EU member – after Malta and Luxembourg – to legalise the plant for personal use.
And it’s expected to give a major boost to Germany’s economy – Mr Henn added: ‘It’s a great opportunity over here. We predict 3.-5x market growth in the next 18 months.
‘It’s not widely recognized that medical cannabis in Germany already generates 40 million euros in annual VAT revenue.
‘We anticipate that this figure could rise to between 200 and 300 million euros within the next 18 months, representing a significant increase.’
The German Government has announced it plans to introduce a second phase of the law, that will allow retail sales of the drug.
But this remains just a proposal, currently labelled as ‘scientific research’.
Where is cannabis legalised in Europe?
Cannabis continues to grow in popularity around the world (Picture: AP)
Malta
In 2021, Malta became the first country in the EU to legalise the use of cannabis for adults.
Those above the age of 18 can carry up to 7g of cannabis in public and grow four plants at home.
But those who want to spark up have to purchase their weed through regulated membership clubs.
Luxembourg
In June 2023, the personal possession and home cultivation of four plants was made legal for those above the age of 18 in Luxembourg.
But the possession, transport and purchase of cannabis in public is still illegal, with those who have more than 3g of the drug fined €25 to €500.
Switzerland (kind of)
Switzerland was the first EU country to launch a pilot programme, allowing thousands of residents to access legal cannabis from regulated shops.
Data is collected from those who use the cannabis, as authorities look to monitor the effect on public health.
The Netherlands (kind of)
The sale of cannabis for recreation is illegal in The Netherlands – even as Amsterdam is a sort of mecca for those looking to try mind altering substances.
In December last year, the Witexperiment was launched – allowing a small number of regulators to provide cannabis to coffee shops in ten cities across the country.
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