Germany Unveils Cannabis Legalization Plans

Germany this week officially unveiled its cannabis legalization plans, allowing the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis and regulated sales to adults, the Associated Press reports. There are still questions about whether the plan will be approved by the Cabinet as officials want to first be sure the legislation is compatible with European Union law.   

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the legalization plan aims to combat illegal cannabis sales in the nation and that the government would tightly regulate the market. Under the plan, the “social effects” of the reforms would be examined after four years.

According to a draft plan outlined last week, THC in cannabis products would be limited to 15% and adults would be allowed to cultivate up to two plants for personal use. Individuals under 18 caught with cannabis would be exempt from criminal punishment but youth welfare officers could advise that young people participate in prevention courses and the cannabis would be confiscated, according to the draft document.

Following the release of the draft document, Niklas Kouparanis, CEO of Bloomwell Group, Germany’s largest cannabis company, warned that the THC limits “may play into the hands of the illegal market.”

Lauterbach has estimated that about 4 million adults in Germany consume cannabis.

Last month, German officials visited cannabis businesses in California. In a tweet, the German consulate in San Francisco said officials “examined products of dispensaries with equity licenses” to better understand “cannabis legalization opportunities and risks.”

In July, officials from Germany, Luxemburg, Malta, and The Netherlands discussed how Europe could move forward in legalizing adult-use cannabis.