Germany legalizes recreational use of marijuana

Germany made the recreational use of marijuana official on Monday (1). The initiative establishes that people over 18 years of age can consume the herb, transporting 25 grams on public roads, cultivating up to 50 grams and having three cannabis plants per adult in the household.

The law restricts the use of cannabis near children, therefore within a 100 meter radius of school units, playgrounds and sports centers, smoking is prohibited.

Furthermore, only in July will cultivation associations be able to plant marijuana and maintain 500 members who can receive up to 50 grams per month. Failure to comply with the rules will result in fines and imprisonment.

According to the German government, educational campaigns will be carried out with young people about the risks.

Read too: In retaliation to the STF, the Senate’s CCJ approves PEC that criminalizes drug possession

With this measure, the government hopes to combat drug trafficking, as well as to resolve the consumption of marijuana of dubious origin, which poses risks to the health of consumers. Another point concerns those who depend on cannabis for medicinal use and who will now be able to access medicines easily and from certified origin, with many people turning to parallel markets.

The decision was celebrated by the Germans at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, burning marijuana.

Check out the list of countries where the recreational use of marijuana is legalized or decriminalized:

• Uruguay – marijuana has been legalized since 2013 (1st country);
• Jamaica – marijuana has been legalized since 2015;
• USA – in some states marijuana is legal;
• Georgia – marijuana has been legalized since 2018;
• South Africa – marijuana has been legalized since 2018;
• Canada – marijuana has been legalized since 2018;
• Mexico – marijuana has been legalized since 2021;
• Malta – marijuana has been legalized since 2021;
• Thailand – marijuana has been legalized since 2022.

Apart from these countries where recreational use is permitted according to the rules established by each State, in Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and the Czech Republic, cannabis in small quantities is decriminalized. In the Netherlands, coffee shops are allowed to sell up to 5 grams for consumption in the establishment.