As of today, you can legally smoke weed in Germany. No joke Bulgaria and Romania are partially joining the Schengen area

On April 1, the accompanying cannabis law came into effect, which the traffic light coalition had pushed through despite great resistance from opposition parties, the states and associations from medicine, the judiciary and the police.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach again defended the move. “Today we are putting an end to a failed ban policy,” the SPD politician told the German news agency in Berlin. This is a historic opportunity. “From now on, we combine a real alternative to the black market with better protection of children and young people. Things could not continue as before,” the minister added.

The government states that cannabis consumption has increased despite the ban, that the black market is growing and that cannabis purchased there may be associated with increased health risks. The active ingredient content is unknown and it may contain toxic additives and impurities.

Now, as a first step, the possession, private cultivation and consumption of certain amounts of cannabis for adults will be allowed. From July, so-called cultivation associations will be allowed to grow and distribute cannabis to their members under strict conditions under state control. At the same time, the law provides for measures to prevent addiction.

When this comes into force, cannabis will disappear from the list of prohibited substances in the Narcotics Act. People over the age of 18 are now allowed to carry a maximum of 25 grams of the drug in public and a maximum of 50 grams at home. It is also allowed to have a maximum of three cannabis plants in the house. Smoking weed is allowed in public, but not near children and young people, schools, daycare centers, playgrounds and sports fields and not in pedestrian areas during the day.

Violations can be punished with significant fines. Passing on the drug – with the exception of clubs – remains a criminal offense and carries a risk of imprisonment, especially if passed on to minors. Cannabis remains prohibited for young people under the age of 18. (sda/dpa)