Starting in April, when the new law will come into force, those over 18 years of age will be able to grow a maximum of three cannabis plants at home for self-consumption or possess 50 grams of dried flowers in their private space.
The Lower House of the German Parliament (Bundestag) approved this Friday the legalization of the possession and consumption of up to 50 grams of cannabis, subject however to a series of restrictions.
The bill, proposed by the Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbachin April of last year, has been the subject of considerable controversy and, in a heavily modified version, has obtained votes in favor of the deputies of the Government coalition of social democrats, greens and liberals, as well as the left.
The Christian Democratic opposition and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), on the other hand, voted against.
“I myself was against legalization for many years, but it is science that now says that we must follow this path,” the social democrat Lauterbach highlighted in his speech.
The minister has advocated avoiding “punitivism and tabooing” and for not “criminalizing the young people whose lives we have destroyed because we have not protected them from the black market.”
Starting in Aprilwhen the new law will come into force, those over 18 years of age will be able to grow a maximum of three cannabis plants at home for self-consumption or possess 50 grams of dried flowers in their private space (a maximum of 25 grams if they are in the space public).
Besides, starting in july the creation of ‘clubs’ with up to 500 members who will be able to grow cannabis collectively and non-commercially and exchange it among themselves for private consumption.
On the other hand, the sentences for possession or self-cultivation for quantities of up to 25 grams will be deleted of the criminal records of those convicted retroactively.
Consumption in public will be subject to a series of restrictions, as it will remain illegal within a radius of 100 meters from the entry points to educational centers and sports facilities.
No later than 18 months after the entry into force of the new law, a assessment to determine what effect it is having on the health of children and adolescents.
Source: Eitb
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