Cannabis users in Germany have welcomed a new law that decriminalises the drug and its use in the European country.
The law went into effect at midnight on Monday, after lawmakers cleared the way for legalisation in March.
Karl Lauterbach, the health minister, advocated for the policy, claiming that the previous drug policy had failed and resulted in a black market.
Some members of the chamber argued about the law’s negative consequences and moved to refer the bill to a mediation committee to delay its implementation.
The motion did not receive enough support to prevent the enforcement.
However, the new law has some limitations. Adults 18 and older will be allowed to carry up to 25 grammes of cannabis for personal consumption.
They will also be permitted to keep up to 50 grammes of the drug at home, as well as three plants for personal cultivation.
Public consumption is permitted as long as it is not in the presence of children or near sports facilities.
The drug will also be prohibited in pedestrian zones from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In addition, beginning July 1, private clubs with up to 500 members will be able to grow cannabis collectively and distribute it to their members.
The law has been met with some opposition, including from the police, amid concerns about misuse and control issues among German youth.
Germany isn’t the first European country to relax cannabis laws. Small amounts of cannabis have long been legal in Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Belgium, and the Netherlands, although some restrictions still apply.
Source: TheCable
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