As of 1 April, adults in Germany are allowed to carry up to 25g of dried cannabis on them and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. The gove

New laws decriminalising personal use of cannabis come into effect in Germany

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2024-04-01 08:30:02

As of 1 April, adults in Germany are allowed to carry up to 25g of dried cannabis on them and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home.

The government says decriminalising weed will hit the hidden market, and reduce the spread of contaminated cannabis, thereby protecting young people. But there has been criticism about the possible impact on youths.

“From our point of view, the law as it is written is a disaster,” Katja Seidel, a therapist at a drug addiction centre in Berlin, the Tannenhof Berlin-Brandenburg, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“Access to the product will be easier, its image will change and become more normalised, especially among young people,” Seidel said, adding that she expected to see an increase in cannabis use “at least initially”.

The new legislation also has some safeguards to protect young people, including a ban on smoking cannabis within 100 metres (328ft) of a school, kindergarten, playground or sports centre.