Crowds gathered in Germany overnight to celebrate the legalization of cannabis, which begins on Monday.
There was music and dancing at the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin as many waved placards and blew smoke into the air.
Germans Celebrate As Recreational Cannabis Use Becomes Legal
One guy was seen cycling through the crowd, carrying a big cannabis leaf artwork on a trailer behind their bike, while another ceremoniously rolled a joint in front of news cameras.
Following a contentious national discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of making cannabis more accessible, Germany’s lower house of parliament decided last month to legalize it for restricted recreational use.
Karl Lauterbach, the health minister, praised the move in an X post on Monday.
“Weed use was already present yesterday, but it is increasing. “Now it’s out of the taboo zone,” he wrote.
“This is better for real addiction help, prevention for children and young people and for combating the black market, for which there will soon be an alternative.”
The new restrictions allow adults to carry tiny amounts for personal use, but the substance remains illegal for people under 18.
Germans Celebrate As Recreational Cannabis Use Becomes Legal
Under new regulations proposed by Germany’s ruling coalition party, adults can cultivate up to three plants for private use. Beginning April 1, the limit is 50g at home and 25g in public.
From July 1, cannabis will be offered in approved not-for-profit clubs with no more than 500 members, all of whom must be adults. Only club members would be able to consume their output.
The German government stated that cannabis would remain illegal for kids and severely restricted for young adults and that consuming the substance near schools and playgrounds would be prohibited.
Germany becomes the third country in Europe to legalize cannabis for recreational use, following Malta and Luxembourg, and removes it from the official list of illegal narcotics.
Germans Celebrate As Recreational Cannabis Use Becomes Legal
The Netherlands prohibits drug possession, but some towns allow them to be sold at coffee shops as part of its so-called toleration policy.
Other countries, such as Australia and the United States, have differing local restrictions.
SOURCE – (CNN)
