Crowds gathered in Germany overnight to celebrate the legalization of cannabis starting from Monday. The festivities took place at the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin, where attendees enjoyed music, dancing, and waving placards. Some individuals were seen engaging in symbolic acts, such as cycling through the crowd with an artwork of a giant cannabis leaf and rolling joints in front of television cameras.
Last month, Germany's lower house of parliament voted to legalize cannabis for limited recreational use, sparking a national debate on the topic. Health minister Karl Lauterbach expressed his support for the move, emphasizing the benefits of bringing cannabis out of the taboo zone for addiction help, prevention efforts, and combating the black market.
Under the new legislation, adults in Germany can now possess small amounts of cannabis for personal use. The rules allow for the cultivation of up to three plants for private consumption and possession limits of 50g at home and 25g in public, effective from April 1. Additionally, licensed not-for-profit clubs with a maximum of 500 adult members will be permitted to distribute cannabis starting from July 1.
It is important to note that the legalization does not apply to minors, with strict regulations in place for young adults. Consumption near schools and playgrounds remains illegal. Germany now joins Malta and Luxembourg as the third European country to legalize cannabis for recreational use, marking a significant shift in drug policy.
While the Netherlands tolerates the sale of drugs in certain municipalities, other countries like Australia and the US have varying regulations on cannabis at the local level. The move in Germany reflects a broader trend towards reevaluating drug laws and addressing the societal impact of cannabis use.
