From April 1, you can legally smoke weed in Germany – (probably) no joke. Russian Wagner soldiers are said to have executed 25 people in Mali

After a long battle, Germany’s three government partners have agreed on the final details for the legalization of cannabis. “The law can therefore enter into force on April 1,” the deputy faction leaders responsible for drug policy said on Thursday evening after a final round of negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP in Berlin.

White smoke – in a figurative sense – after lengthy negotiations. The intention is now for the law to be adopted in the Bundestag in the week of February 19. With the agreement of the parliamentary group experts, the approval is considered somewhat certain – even if individual SPD MPs announced that they would vote no. The governing coalition has 49 more seats in the Bundestag than is necessary for an absolute majority.

The Federal Council is expected to discuss the draft on March 22. However, his permission is not necessary. The regional chamber can only submit an objection. Since at least one traffic light party is represented in every state government except Bavaria, this is considered unlikely. It is now almost certain that this will come into effect on April 1.

Cannabis prohibition expires after more than 40 years

On this day it will most likely be more than The cannabis prohibition that has been in force for forty years will expire. Sales and cultivation were prohibited by law in the 1970s and early 1980s. Now cannabis must be removed from the list of prohibited substances in the Narcotics Act on April 1. Home cultivation and possession of certain amounts of the drug will be allowed for adults from April 1, 2024. Clubs for collective cultivation should be possible from July 1.

The government factions had already agreed on the bill at the end of November. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) sees this as a “new approach to keep adolescents away from the drug as much as possible, to curb the black market and keep the substances under control.”

First revision of the law after only one year

However, domestic politicians from the SPD expressed their concerns shortly after the agreement. This meant, for example, smaller minimum distances to schools and daycare centers when consuming cannabis.

However, the legislative package was not reopened during the coalition talks. Only the assessment of effectiveness is limited. Instead of only after four years, this should now happen gradually. An initial evaluation takes place after a year; The publication of the results is scheduled for the end of September 2025. A second assessment will take place after two years and a final assessment will take place after four years.

The expertise of the Federal Criminal Police must also be involved. The most important question is whether regulations for the protection of children and young people are effective. If necessary it must be sharpened.

Stoned behind the wheel: Union sees a danger to road safety

However, the agreement in the coalition means that the debate about one of the most controversial traffic light projects is far from over. The CDU and CSU union fears that the black market will not be slowed down, but will actually be promoted. Hesse’s Interior Minister, Roman Poseck, assumes that dealers will not be deterred from their activities. “Because they do not have to comply with state controls and tax requirements like legal producers, they can market their products cheaper and therefore more profitably,” says the CDU politician. He cites the illegal cigarette trade as an example.

Increased cannabis consumption can also affect road safety, even if consumption limits apply, as is the case with alcohol. “By legalizing cannabis, the federal government is sending the wrong message and wrong priorities,” Poseck said. SPD MPs announce ‘no’ in the Bundestag

But the law also remains controversial within the coalition. The SPD MP Christian Fiedler – a criminal investigator by profession – announced in the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday) that he would vote against legalization. He cannot agree to a law that would lead to ‘decriminalization of dealers and pointless extra work for the police’. “Organized crime laughs from its sleeve.”

Domestic SPD politician Sebastian Hartmann also does not want to agree. “The concerns I had that led to the delay in passing the law remain unresolved. “That is why I cannot agree with the plan,” he told Zeit Online. The coalition agreement originally provided for the controlled distribution of cannabis in certified stores. “But the current law shifts this tax to the private sector and therefore out of control.” (sda/dpa)