Germany's lower house of parliament has voted to legalize cannabis for limited recreational use, allowing adults to possess small amounts for personal use while maintaining the ban for those under 18.
In a vote on Friday, 407 lawmakers voted in favor of the new regulation, with 226 against and four abstentions. The move makes Germany the third country in Europe, after Malta and Luxembourg, to legalize cannabis for recreational use, removing it from the official list of banned substances.
Under the new legislation, adults can cultivate up to three plants for private consumption and possess 50g at home and 25g in public, starting from April 1. Licensed not-for-profit clubs with no more than 500 members will also be allowed to provide cannabis from July 1, with consumption restricted to club members.
Germany's Health Minister Karl Lauterbach emphasized that the aim of the new law is to crack down on the black market, reduce drugs-related crime, and cut the number of users. However, he also stressed that cannabis consumption remains illegal for minors and highly restricted for young adults, with consumption near schools and playgrounds prohibited.
The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany's largest opposition party, has opposed the new legislation, with lawmaker Tino Sorge criticizing the government for acting like a "state drug dealer" instead of protecting children and young people.
The German Medical Associations (GMA) have also expressed criticism, arguing that the legalization of cannabis leads to increased consumption and trivializes the associated risks, including addiction and serious developmental damage.
Despite opposition, the new law represents a significant step in Germany's approach to cannabis regulation, aligning it more closely with countries like Malta and Luxembourg while maintaining strict controls to protect minors and young adults.
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