Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
Germany has officially legalized possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use, sparking celebratory events among marijuana campaigners across the country.
The German Cannabis Association organized a "smoke-in" at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate to mark the law's enactment at midnight. Similar public consumption events were held in Cologne, Hamburg, Regensburg, and Dortmund.
Germany joins Malta and Luxembourg as the third European Union country to legalize cannabis for personal use, despite objections from doctors and police.
The government argues that legalization will disrupt the criminal trade in cannabis, ensure safer consumption by eliminating harmful impurities, and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
Adults are now permitted to possess up to 25 grams of marijuana and grow up to three plants for personal use. However, consumption near schools or playgrounds remains prohibited.
Starting July 1, German residents aged 18 and older can join nonprofit "cannabis clubs" with a maximum of 500 members each, enabling members to purchase limited amounts of marijuana.
The legislation includes an amnesty for individuals with previous cannabis-related offenses that are no longer illegal under the new law, though concerns arise regarding potential judicial system overload.
While the current coalition government passed the law, opposition from some federal states and the Christian Democratic party persists. Leading garden stores opt out of selling cannabis plants, and medical associations and police unions express concerns over the law's impact on young people and society.