Germany’s parliament voted Friday to approve legislation legalizing recreational cannabis use, a groundbreaking move that will make it one of Europe’s most permissive countries on marijuana.
The new law, passed by a majority 407-226 vote, permits adults to possess and grow limited amounts of cannabis for personal consumption starting as early as April 2024. Specifically, Germans over 18 can possess up to 25 grams in public and 50 grams privately, and cultivate up to 3 plants.
Commercial production and sales remain prohibited initially. Instead, the legislation allows for strictly regulated distribution through cannabis “clubs” with no advertising and a 500-member cap. Additional public health education campaigns aim curbing youth access and consumption.
Lawmakers frame the progressive shift as improving regulation and undercutting illegal trafficking rather than promoting use. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier must still sign the legislation before it takes effect, while objections from Germany’s state council could briefly delay the rollout.
Germany now joins regional neighbors like Malta and Luxembourg edging away from blanket prohibition. The move’s potential influence on wider European debates has drawn significant attention. Some domestic critics argue it trivializes risks and could spark wider drug abuse.
But proponents contend controlled legal access diminishes criminal networks more effectively than bans while better protecting public welfare. As other EU nations eye similar decriminalization, Germany’s social experiment with cannabis normalization will offer informative data on reform efforts throughout the continent.