Germany passes law to allow recreational use of cannabis

The German government agreed this Wednesday on a framework for legalize cannabis of recreational use for adults, subject to the approval of European legislation, informed the Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach.

The main lines of the project aim to put the production and trade of cannabis under “public control” and allow the purchase and possession “of a maximum amount of 20 to 30 grams” for personal consumptionindicated the minister in a press conference.

The document provides for “public control of the supply chain” of cannabis with the aim of “guaranteeing health protection and curbing organized crime and the black market.”

The plan organizes “the production, supply and trade of recreational cannabis within the framework of licenses controlled by the State,” it details.

Instead, use by those under the age of 18 is still strictly prohibited.

The minister justified this reform, which would make Germany one of the most liberal countries in Europe, by the desire “to obtain better protection for children and young people”, considering that the policy on the matter had not been “really effective” so far.

If all goes well, I think legalization could take place in 2024,” stressed the Social Democratic minister.

But everything will depend on the examination of the European Commission.

“We are verifying that the general lines that we have drawn up in this document are compatible with international and European law,” he stressed.

In case the European Comission did not give its approval, the document would not lead to a law text, he specified.

Cannabis legalization is a landmark reform promised by the FDP’s coalition government of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals when it was formed a year ago.