In Germany, marijuana campaigners marked the liberalisation of cannabis rules by lighting celebratory joints on Monday.
The new law permits the possession of small amounts of cannabis.
The German Cannabis Association, advocating for this change, organised a “smoke-in” at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate as the law came into effect at midnight.
Similar public consumption events were planned across the country, including gatherings in front of the Cologne Cathedral, as well as in Hamburg, Regensburg, and Dortmund.
Under the newly implemented law in Germany, adults are now allowed to possess up to 25 grams (nearly 1 ounce) of marijuana for recreational use and can cultivate up to three plants at home.
This provision of the law came into effect on Monday. Beginning July 1, German residents aged 18 and older will have the option to join nonprofit “cannabis clubs”, each limited to a maximum of 500 members.
People will be able to buy a maximum of 25 grams per day or 50 grams per month. However, the limit will be reduced to 30 grams per month for individuals who are under the age of 21. It will not be allowed to become a member of multiple clubs.
Membership fees for the clubs will be structured based on the amount of marijuana consumed by members, ensuring that costs are covered.
The legislation includes provisions for amnesty, which entails the review and, in many cases, reversal of sentences for cannabis-related offences that are no longer illegal.
However, regional authorities express concerns about the potential strain on the judicial system due to the thousands of cases.
The current coalition, comprising Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, the Greens, and the pro-business Free Democrats, championed the law despite opposition from some of Germany’s federal states and the center-right Christian Democrats.
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has promised to repeal the law if his party wins the national elections in the fall of 2025.
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