On April 1, the law approved this Friday, February 23 by the Lower House of the German Parliament will come into force, by which users may be in possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis for consumption. Subject to several restrictions, the new law allows those over 18 years of age to be in possession of three plants in the home for their own consumption.
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The Bundestag approved this Friday the legalization of the possession and consumption of up to 50 grams of cannabis, a bill proposed by the Ministry of Health that has finally been voted favorably by the Lower House of the German Parliament.
In this way, the coalition of Government of social democrats, greens and liberals, accompanied by favorable votes from the lefthas been able to give the green light to a project that dates back to April of last year and that obtained votes against the Christian Democrats and the extreme right.
Its main promoter, the Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, defended that “it is science that now says that we must follow this path”, confessing that he previously positioned himself against legalization.
The minister also stated that thanks to this law “young people are protected”who must go to the “black market” to obtain the product.
With this law, an “alternative” to this illegal market is created and self-cultivation is supported. In addition, the law also provides for harsher penalties against traffickers and those who sell cannabis to minors, as well as awareness campaigns about consumption.
The opposition, for its part, was harsh: “You seriously maintain as the minister responsible for the health of children and young people that with legalization we are going to reduce consumption among children and adolescents. It is the biggest nonsense I have ever heard.” , charged the Christian Democrat deputy Tino Sorge.
For those over 18 years of age, from April 1 and up to 50 grams of dried flowers in the private space
The age, the number and the date are the exact parameters that German society will have to adhere to.
As for the public space, the law provides that up to 25 grams can be found or that starting in July the creation of clubs with up to 500 members will be allowed to cultivate collectively without commercial purposes.
Can it be consumed on the streets? Yes, but with certain restrictions: It will continue to be illegal within a 100 meter radius of the entry points to educational centers and sports facilities, while in pedestrian zones the hours will be from seven in the morning until eight in the afternoon.
A legal labyrinth and the danger of increasing the number of consumers
Every law has its hidden side and this one is not exempt from it. On the one hand, jurists point out that they will have to review thousands of cases of minor crimes for possession of less than 25 grams that were previously outside the legal framework.
Consequently, it had opened a judicial process that must now be closed: The law provides that sentences for possession or self-cultivation by Quantities of up to 25 grams will be removed from criminal records of those convicted retroactively.
The Local media also emphasize what the legal limit for driving will be.. Aware that the THC component is harmful to reflexes, the promoters of the law have not made it clear what the limit will be when it comes to gripping the steering wheel.
“The Ministry of Transport has not yet set a limit. Currently, the maximum limit for THC is one nanogram per milliliter of blood. A commission of experts is still working on a maximum limit after legalization,” explains the local media 'Bild'.
With legalization, Germany joins a long list of nations that have already done it, although they all have their nuances, for recreational purposes: Uruguay, Mexico, Malta, Canada, the United States (in 16 states), Georgia, South Africa, Holland, Jamaica and Portugal.
With EFE and local media
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