BERLIN- As the clock struck midnight in Germany, transitioning from March 31st to April 1st, the nation embraced a historic shift in its drug policy landscape. Germany’s new adult-use cannabis legalization law, known as the CanG law, officially came into effect, marking the country as the latest to join a growing list of nations reevaluating their stance on cannabis.
Under the CanG law, adults aged 18 and over in Germany now have the freedom to engage in activities related to cannabis under a regulated system, a move that Kai-Friedrich Niermann, a leading attorney at KFN+ Law Office, hailed as a “paradigm shift in drug policy” aimed at ending the century-long prohibition policy.
Germany’s legalization initiative stands as the most significant policy change in the realm of national adult-use cannabis laws since the inception of global cannabis prohibition. The law encompasses several key provisions aimed at both consumers and medical patients, with the overarching goal of creating a safer, more regulated access to cannabis.
Key Provisions of Germany’s Cannabis Legalization
- Narcotics De-listing: The removal of cannabis from Germany’s Narcotics List is a pivotal change, simplifying the medical cannabis supply chain, fostering research, and potentially leading to significant advancements in the understanding of cannabis and its medical applications.
- Personal Cultivation: Germans are now allowed to cultivate up to three cannabis plants for personal use, a provision expected to fuel a surge in demand for cultivation-related products and services.
- Personal Possession: Adults can possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use. The law also eases the penalties for possession slightly above this limit, treating it as an administrative violation rather than a criminal offense.
- Cannabis Clubs: Set to launch on July 1, 2024, noncommercial cannabis clubs will offer a new venue for adults to legally source cannabis. These clubs, subject to regulation, represent a novel approach to cannabis distribution within the legal framework.
The enactment of this law is projected to result in substantial savings for Germany, with estimates suggesting an annual reduction of 1.05 billion euros in enforcement costs and an additional 313 million euros in judicial savings.
Looking ahead, the “first pillar” of legalization sets the stage for further policy modernizations, including the launch of regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot programs. Advocates and industry stakeholders are poised to closely monitor the implementation of the law and its impacts on both the domestic and international cannabis markets.
As Germany embarks on this journey, the global community watches with keen interest. The move not only represents a significant shift within Germany but also adds to the momentum of cannabis legalization and reform worldwide.
