Germany Legalizes Recreational Cannabis

Facts

• The German parliament on Friday voted to legalize cannabis, allowing adults over 18 to keep small amounts of the drug for limited recreational consumption.¹
• Under the legislation, adults are allowed to cultivate up to three plants for personal use and possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public and 50 grams at home.²
• The legislation, expected to take effect on April 1, limits the potency of THC — the psychoactive chemical in marijuana — for under-21s and removes cannabis from the official list of banned substances.³
• Furthermore, starting July 1, those of legal age will be able to join 500-member, adults-only, non-profit cannabis clubs authorized to produce and sell marijuana to members.⁴
• The legislation bars membership in multiple cannabis clubs as well as bans cannabis consumption near schools, playgrounds, and sports facilities.⁵
• Initially, the legislation was expected to include the commercial sale of the drug. However, the government reportedly revised the bill as the sale of cannabis products remains illegal under EU rules.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²CNN, ³POLITICO, ⁴Associated Press, ⁵ABC News and ⁶Forbes.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by New York Times. Germany has taken cannabis out of the taboo zone and ended the era of dysfunctional and unjust prohibition. The legislation won't just crack down on the black market and drug-related crime; it will better protect young adults, cut the number of cannabis users, and simplify operations for both medical cannabis companies and patients.
• Narrative B, as provided by BBC News. This legislation will neither combat organized crime nor control the distribution of cannabis in licensed stores, but it will undoubtedly lead to more consumption and trivialization of the associated risks. It will normalize an addictive drug, make it easier for minors to obtain it, and drive more Germans into addiction and increase the work of law enforcement.

Predictions