Personal use of cannabis decriminalized in Germany

Germany's parliament has given the green light for the partial legalization of cannabis for personal use, with possession and home cultivation set to be decriminalized starting from April 1, following the law's successful passage in the Bundesrat last week.

Individuals aged 18 and older will be permitted to have up to 25 grams of cannabis and cultivate up to three plants at their residence.

Additionally, as of July 1, noncommercial "cannabis clubs", each with up to 500 members, will be able to provide up to 50 grams a month to each member, news agencies reported.

"The fight was worth it," Health Minister Karl Lauterbach posted on social media, after the decision. "Please use the new option responsibly. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end for the black market today."

The legislation, a key reform initiative of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, was recently approved by the lower house of parliament but had faced uncertainty in the upper house controlled by Germany's 16 state governments, where Scholz's coalition lacks a majority.

Backers had feared the upper house may have sent the legislation to a mediating committee, providing the center-right opposition with a chance to halt the project entirely, but opponents were unable to gather enough support and the bill passed on Friday.

Critics raised concerns about the large quantity of cannabis people would be allowed to possess, and the lack of ample prohibition zones near schools and kindergartens.

Lauterbach proposed revisions to the law effective before July 1, including reducing the frequency of inspections for cannabis clubs from "annually" to "regularly" to alleviate the workload of state authorities, and enhancing addiction prevention measures, reported the Politico news website.

The legislation also includes provisions for an amnesty program to reassess and potentially reverse sentences for past cannabis-related offenses that are no longer considered illegal, reported the Associated Press, or AP. Concern had been raised by regional authorities about the potential strain on the judicial system due to the anticipated influx of thousands of cases.

Though possession and use for individuals under 18 will remain prohibited, the new law will establish Germany as one of the European countries with the most progressive cannabis regulations, said AP.

Malta legalized recreational cannabis use in 2021, followed by Luxembourg in 2023, but the Netherlands, previously recognized for its liberal cannabis policies, has tightened restrictions on sales to tourists and non-residents in recent times.

The Al Jazeera news website cited Steffen Geyer, director of Berlin's Hemp Museum, as saying that, with the passing of the law, Germany had become "a little bit more free and tolerant".

"This is the first step on the road to a rational and science-based drugs policy," he said.