Germany Ministry of Health Unveils Cannabis Legalization Draft Bill

German adults aged 18 and older would be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and cultivate up to three plants under the country’s draft law to legalize cannabis published by the Ministry of Health last week, Forbes reports. The law would also establish cannabis growers’ associations which would allow members to obtain either 25 grams of cannabis per day or 50 grams per month for personal use, and associations could supply each member with up to seven seeds or five plant cuttings per month. 

The law would also remove cannabis from the nation’s Narcotics Drugs Act and related laws. 

Under the law, cannabis consumption in the “immediate vicinity” of individuals under 18, within a 200-meter radius of schools, children’s and youth facilities, playgrounds, publicly accessible sports facilities, and pedestrian zones between 7 am and 8 pm, would remain prohibited with the potential for fines and criminal charges for specific unlawful activities, the report says. 

Medical cannabis patients would also be allowed to access a regular prescription for cannabis rather than a specialized narcotic prescription. 

A second draft bill, related to retail sales, is expected in the second half of the year, the report says. 

The bill must be approved first by the Ministry of Health before moving to Germany’s Parliament. If approved, Germany would join Malta and Luxembourg as the only European nations to legalize cannabis for adult use.