Titled: Relaxed Cannabis Regulations in Germany: More Freedom and Fewer Penalties
Steering clear from the stern cannabis regulations previously proposed, the Green Party has propelled the upcoming cannabis laws towards a more permissive stance. According to Green Party health policy spokesperson Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, homegrown weed enthusiasts will now enjoy a doubled allowance of 50 grams of dried cannabis, and the prohibited zone surrounding daycare centers, playgrounds, and schools will shrink from 200 to 100 meters.
In Berlin, Kappert-Gonther emphasized that, while striving to safeguard youth and public health, the new rules will facilitate the transition of cannabis users away from the black market. She noted that overly burdensome bureaucratic barriers should be avoided to ensure an alternative to illicit procurement is accessible.
Penalties will soften, too
Kappert-Gonther also hinted at more lenient penalties for slight cannabis overages, although exact punishments remain to be determined. Initially, cannabis possession exceeding 25 grams was subject to criminal liability. Now, the new guidelines place possession between 25 and 30 grams in public areas and 50 to 60 grams in private areas under administrative punishment, while quantities above these limits will revert to criminal law. Moreover, potential penalties will decrease from a maximum of 100,000 to 30,000 euros. By the close of March, experts from the Federal Ministry of Transport will propose a THC limit value for road traffic.
Cannabis legalization in sight
Hailing from the traffic light coalition's agreement, the legalization of cannabis is expected to transpire in the spring. Regulations will gradually remove cannabis from the Narcotics Act's list of prohibited substances, granting adults aged 18 and over permission to possess a certain amount. Individuals may also cultivate up to three plants at home, with communal growth and distribution within cannabis clubs permitted among club members.
At first, plans called for cannabis sales in licensed stores, but this element has been temporarily postponed. With the legislation's arrival on the horizon, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) expressed his support for milder cannabis punishments, concluding that minor excesses should not lead to immediate prosecution. Along with the legalization of cannabis, Lauterbach anticipates allowing adults to cultivate and possess a limited amount at home while cannabis clubs offer communal cultivation and redistribution among members.
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In Germany, the updated home cultivation and possession limits for cannabis declare that:
- Possession Limits: Adults aged 18 and over can possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public spaces and 50 grams at home[1][2].
- Cultivation Limits: Individuals can cultivate up to three plants for personal use[1][2].
Though no apparent changes in punishment details for cannabis possession or cultivation have surfaced in available sources, the regulatory framework seeks to minimize the illicit market and promote more permissive rules for cannabis users.
