Today a controversial law comes into force in Germany that partially legalizes the cultivation and possession of cannabis for recreational use. After the final approval of the law in the Upper House last week, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach argued that the law aims to stop illegal marijuana trafficking in the country.
With an estimated 4.5 million regular marijuana users in Germany, the Government believes that the new legislation will also curb crime related to the illegal market and ensure that users have a safe, high-quality and regulated product. .
Germany represents the largest medical cannabis market in Europe since the government legalized its use for patients in 2017. With the law that comes into force today, an adult will be able to legally possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for use in public (up to 50 grams at home) and grow a maximum of three plants for private consumption.
State leaders of the Christian Democratic opposition (CDU) criticized the law, which has been introduced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's tripartite coalition. Opponents claim the regulations ignored the health risks of cannabis use, especially for young people.
“This law will cost human lives,” said Reiner Haseloff, CDU premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Michael Kretschmer, state leader of the Saxony CDU, pointed out for the part that it will lead to “total chaos.”
German law will allow those with criminal records for previous possession offenses to request their removal from records. The new regulations also establish a regulatory framework for non-profit marijuana consumer associations, which will be able to grow cannabis in a second phase and supply it to their members.
According to the Minister of Health, in places that have intelligent legalization of cannabis consumption, as is the case in several states in the United States, the black market has been hit.
According to Lauterbach, the law opens the possibility of protecting future generations from crime, the black market and, through education, also from consumption. Lauterbach himself admitted to having changed his mind on the matter when he learned the data.
