That figure rose from around £6,300 last year, showing that the appetite for medical cannabis in Germany continues to grow, as well as people`s desire for legal adult weed. Cannabis is illegal in Germany, but there are exceptions to the rule. DW looks at what`s legal and what`s not when it comes to private weed use – and who says it`s high time to legalize marijuana? Germany, which legalized medical cannabis in 2017, currently has around 128,000 medical cannabis patients. Last year, more than 9,000 kilograms (the equivalent of 19,841+ pounds) of cannabis were imported from countries such as Canada, Denmark and Portugal to be examined or sold in German medical pharmacies for use as medical cannabis products. Yes. Medical marijuana has been legal for critically ill prescription patients1 since 2017. It is rarely prescribed. Only a few hundred people have a recipe1. Hundreds of marijuana users gathered in the German capital to celebrate 420, the annual celebration of cannabis, and demand the legalization of the drug. The new German government has promised a new law. The hemp association also calls for legalizing marijuana cultivation at home: “It makes no sense to sue consumers for a few cannabis plants, when in the store next door, kilos of weed go over the counter every day,” Wurth said.
Whether or not our leaders really want [legalization] and if they are willing to have international tensions, we`ll see. It`s a close game,” Wurth said. Angela Merkel`s CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, remain clearly opposed to legalisation, as does the right-wing populist AfD. The only party still on the fence is the centre-left Social Democrats, who have shown themselves open to new ideas. Although all signs indicate legalization, every three minutes a cannabis user is caught in the police and justice network. The authorities must continue to enforce the drug law. It can take years for licensed specialty stores to have cannabis on their shelves. Therefore, activists are calling for cannabis use to be decriminalized immediately as a first step, as provided for in UN conventions. Burkhard Blienert, Germany`s Narcotics Commissioner, will conduct a series of five interviews with more than 200 stakeholders, including drug doctors, cannabis associations and international experts. The results will be presented at the end of the month and will form the basis of the legalization strategy expected in the fall. After the 2021 federal election, the resulting coalition announced in its coalition agreement that it wanted to legalize recreational cannabis, although corresponding concrete laws have not yet been introduced. [1] Justice Minister Marco Buschmann announced on the same day that he was planning a full technical preparation for cannabis legalization through a consultation process with the Ministry of Health and other ministries.
The legal status of marijuana possession in Germany is not easy. Medical cannabis use is now permitted in certain situations, and “small amounts” in private capacity may be considered “insignificant” in criminal law terms. When it comes to marijuana and the law in Germany, several factors can be involved in a case, such as: the amount, how it was used, the purpose of the possession, and even the German state you are in. Therefore, it is important to know the law in Germany. Nevertheless, Wurth notes that one of the biggest hurdles in Germany will be overcoming resistance from opponents of cannabis legalization. After the departure of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, the traffic light coalition wants to bring new energy to the country. Merkel was chancellor for sixteen years and her party, the Christian Democrats (CDU), was known to be more conservative in its views on cannabis. However, there are several things to consider, including the model to be used to legalize the sale of adult-use cannabis. However, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced last week that he would soon begin the legal process of legalizing cannabis. Expectations for the legalization of recreational cannabis in Germany are very high. Germany could become the first European country to legalize the sale of recreational cannabis and attract foreign investors. In 2021, a new coalition government was elected in Germany.
This new government wants to legalize recreational marijuana throughout Germany. It is part of their coalition agreement. Marijuana could become legal in the next few years, but that`s not guaranteed. Some German politicians could also put obstacles in the way. While a law to legalize recreational cannabis could make it easier to approve the Bundestag, where pro-legalization parties have a majority, it might be harder to go through the Bundesrat, which represents German states at the federal level. To get a glimpse into the legalization landscape in Germany, Leafly turned to Georg Wurth of the German Hemp Association (DHV), the leading non-governmental organization behind cannabis legalization in Germany. In addition, Finance Minister Christian Lindner confirmed that the process of legalizing recreational cannabis has begun. Recreational cannabis reform could bring the country more than $5.3 billion in additional annual tax revenue and create about 27,000 legal jobs in the cannabis industry, according to a study by the University of Düsseldorf. As for supply, “the Dutch model is not a model for Germany,” Blienert said in February.
The Dutch allowed the sale of cannabis in coffee shops in 1976, but did not allow the legal and controlled supply. Blienert doesn`t want that for Germany. “We need to keep an eye on the entire supply chain. from culture to commerce to sales,” he said. Wurth is the first professional lobbyist for cannabis legalization in Germany. He has influenced weed policy in his city council since the `90s, and in 1996 he began to “specialize more and more in drug policy reform.” A few weeks later, you will receive a receipt for your visit to the police station. You don`t have to do anything yet. At this point, your case is still open. Later, you will receive either a letter with legal instructions or a letter stating that there are no problems. Legalization supporters want Germany to open cannabis shops, similar to those popping up in California When you think of the world`s largest adult-use cannabis market, you probably don`t think of Europe.
But be prepared to update your information, as this could change in 2024 when Germany successfully legalizes adult cannabis thanks to its population of over 83 million people. If you encounter legal difficulties in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or Thuringia, it is especially important to contact a criminal lawyer. Since there is no absolute limit to marijuana possession, having a qualified criminal justice expert by your side can be a great help in such cases! Germany will allow adults to buy and possess up to 30 grams (just over 1 ounce) of recreational cannabis as the ruling coalition delivers on its promise to legalize weed. [14] The Hanfparade is a demonstration for the legalization of hemp in Berlin. It has been held annually in August since 1997. The obstacles the country faces in legalizing recreational cannabis are numerous. The pandemic, the rising cost of living, and Russia`s war on Ukraine are all weighing on politicians who want to legalize weed, such as the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) – a three-party coalition that came to power in late 2021, also known as the Traffic Light Coalition. When Germany`s new coalition added the legalization of recreational cannabis to its political agenda in late 2021, there were few details on how the industry should be regulated.
When asked if legalization in Germany is guaranteed in 2024, Wurth answers states that are about to legalize. “Nothing is guaranteed in drug policy reform until it becomes a reality,” he said. By legalizing recreational cannabis, Germany risks violating international law. The peyote cactus in Mexico and Texas is full of mescaline, a hallucinogenic compound that is illegal under the International Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Mescaline changes thought processes and the sense of time and self-confidence. The cactus is cut into pieces and eaten or boiled with tea. The cactus species is now on the red list as endangered. The Greens, the Left Party and the FDP want the government to legalise the regulation of cannabis for private use.
They say this will help protect adult users from buying cannabis infused with other harmful chemicals.
