Lawmakers in Germany have approved a bill to legalize marijuana. The country’s parliament, known as the Bundestag, voted 407-226 in favor of the legislation.
The initiative has been in the works for months and is set to take effect on April 1. Under the law, adults 18 and over will be allowed to possess 25 grams of cannabis in public and 50 grams at home. However, people between the ages of 18 and 21 will be limited to buying a maximum of 30 grams of bud per month with no more than 10 percent THC.
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Cannabis will be available at not-for-profit consumption clubs set to open in July. The clubs may have no more than 500 members. Home grow is also permitted, with adults able to cultivate no more than three plants at a time.
Germany is the third EU country to approve adult-use cannabis reform—and arguably the most influential due to its size and economic power.
“We anticipate that neighboring European nations and others worldwide will take note of Germany’s progressive stance, potentially inspiring similar steps towards cannabis legalization. Germany has the opportunity to set a precedent for others to emulate,” said Jürgen Bickel, co-founder and managing director of German-based cannabis hardware maker Storz & Bickel, in an interview with Green Market Report
Medical marijuana has been legal in Germany since 2017, and is one of the largest cannabis markets in Europe. The country’s cannabis industry is expected to reach a €123 billion valuation by 2028.
The legislation will now go to the Bundesrat, which is a separate government committee that represents individual German states. While they cannot stop the law from taking effect, it is possible that the April 1 enactment could be delayed as the restorative justice components of the bill are debated.
Delay or not, the vote is a historic moment for cannabis advocates in the EU. The move may have a ripple effect throughout Europe, affecting reform efforts throughout the continent and beyond.
