RE:Germany: Lawmakers Agree On Revised Marijuana Bill Cannabis possession and cultivation will become legal on April 1, 2024, with the formation of cannabis social clubs expected by July 1. This progression marks a significant shift from the previously strict stance on cannabis.
Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, a member of the Bundestag and chairwoman of the Health Committee, shared that home cultivation limits would double, allowing up to 50 grams of dried cannabis. The revised rules also ease penal consequences for cannabis possession. Amounts between 25 to 30 grams in public and 50 to 60 grams in private will be treated as administrative offenses, with criminal charges applying only beyond these thresholds.
Fines for cannabis-related offenses are set to decrease substantially, dropping from a maximum of €100,000 to €30,000. Additionally, the exclusion zone for cannabis consumption near sensitive areas like daycare centers and schools will be reduced from 200 to 100 meters. However, regulations regarding cannabis-impaired driving remain under discussion. The Federal Ministry of Transport is expected to propose a THC blood limit by March’s end, replacing the current blanket prohibition on driving under cannabis influence.
The draft law, which had its initial discussion in the Bundestag in late October, awaits final adoption. The coalition aims to push the draft through the Bundestag in the upcoming session, with further consideration in the Bundesrat, where previous attempts to block reform were unsuccessful.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach acknowledged delays in the initial legalization timeline, now aiming for a spring enactment. The legalization initiative, part of the coalition’s post-election agenda, initially faced postponements due to legal complexities with international and European laws. The focus now shifts to controlled cannabis sales for experimentation, following models in Switzerland and the Netherlands.
