Federal ministers from the German government today held a press conference in which they announced a landmark change to cannabis cultivation laws in the European Union's most populous country. Speaking to the assembled media, German ministers declared that non-profit and private cannabis cultivation should be possible nationwide.
German Health MInister Karl Lauterbach, told listeners: “Cannabis is a common stimulant. It is often offered and used illegally in Germany. This is often a health hazard. Adolescents in particular are impaired in their social and cognitive development by cannabis. Despite this, more and more young people are using the drug. The black market goods are often contaminated and create additional health hazards. We can no longer accept this. That’s why we dare the controlled sale of cannabis to adults within clear limits and push back the black market, flanked by preventive measures for young people. Health protection is the priority. The previous cannabis policy has failed. Now we have to break new ground.”
Lauterbach's sentiments were echoed by Germany's Federal Minister of Justice, Marco Buschmann, who added: “The previous restrictive handling of cannabis in Germany has failed. Banning cannabis criminalizes countless people, pushing them into criminal structures and tying up immense resources from law enforcement agencies. It’s time for a new approach that allows more personal responsibility, pushes back the black market and relieves the police and public prosecutor’s offices. We trust people more – without downplaying the dangers that can emanate from cannabis consumption.”
Legal Cultivation In Germany: A Step-By-Step Process
German officials laid out the plans for how they intend to introduce and monitor the effects of cannabis cultivation and use. As a trial period is expected, certain limits will be imposed, including:
- A possession limit of up to 25 grams of cannabis
- A cultivation limit of a maximum of three plants
- A minimum legal age of 18
The legalisation plan's first phase will also include non-commercial associations, or 'Cannabis Clubs' similar to those currently operating in other EU countries. The German model will see memberships of each club initially limited to 500, and members must reside in Germany.
The second phase of the legalisation plan will include the introduction of adult-use commerce pilot projects similar to those currently operational in Basle, Switzerland, with the German model expected to be on a much larger scale. Known details of these pilot projects include:
The project duration is 5 years from the established supply chain.
There is a spatial restriction to delivery points and adult residents of certain districts/cities in several federal states (opt-in approach).
Within the framework of the law, approval of the sale of edibles is being examined in compliance with strict youth and health protection regulations.
The German Health Minister further alluded to the potential for a third phase involving the possibility of nationwide adult-use sales. In his comments, he stated that more time would be needed to successfully lobby the EU to broaden their horizons from possession, social clubs, and cultivation to include national sales of cannabis. It was noted that a scientific report has already been commissioned to study the effects of the legalisation of cannabis on health and youth protection in other countries.
Today's press release concluded that: "The Federal Government is continuing its efforts (particularly through the missions abroad) to promote its approaches to its European partners and is also examining the extent to which a sufficient number of EU Member States can initiate the initiative in order to comply with the relevant EU legal framework in the medium term to be made more flexible and developed further.”
