Germany's Bundestag votes for controlled marijuana legalization, aims to counteract black market
5:12 PM EST, February 24, 2024
The bill received 407 votes in favor, with 226 opposing votes. The bill is anticipated to receive Bundesrat (Federal Council) approval on March 22nd.
Under the forthcoming law, adults will be allowed to possess up to 0.88 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Cultivation of up to three cannabis plants will also be permissible at home, as well as possessing up to 1.76 ounces of marijuana.
Legalizing marijuana in Germany
"The communal cultivation of marijuana in associations is expected to become legal from the summer onwards. Anyone found trading with minors will face a minimum two-year prison sentence. Smoking marijuana in public places will be allowed, barring locations near schools and nurseries. Moreover, the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes by companies in Germany will become more straightforward," reports the weekly magazine "Spiegel."
"We aim to fulfill two objectives. The first is to counteract the black market, and the second is to enhance the protection of children and young people," explained Karl Lauterbach, Germany's Health Minister, during the parliamentary debate.
