Germany and Recreational Cannabis
Germany has legalized Recreational Cannabis
Germany’s new laws legalize possession by adults of up to 25 grams (around 1 ounce) of cannabis for recreational use. It also allows for adults to grow up to three plants. Use is prohibited within 100 meters of the entrance to a playground or school. This part of the legislation is already in force in Germany and come July 1, German adult residents can join nonprofit “cannabis clubs” with a maximum 500 members. Individuals 21 and older will be allowed to buy up to 25 grams per day, with a maximum of 50 grams per month; whereas those between the ages of 18 and 21 will be limited to 30 grams per month. Membership in multiple clubs will not be allowed.
Germany’s impact on cannabis in Europe and the world
Germany is only the third EU country to legalize cannabis for recreational use — after Malta and Luxembourg. Since Germany has so many more people than Malta and Luxembourg, put together, how legal cannabis fares in Germany will likely have a significant impact on whether recreational cannabis legalization happens elsewhere in Europe — perhaps even further afield as well.
The economic implications of German cannabis legalization
A study completed by the University of Dusseldorf in November of 2021 estimated that approximately $4.7 billion Euros in total would be generated from the taxes on cannabis products sold to German citizens, from the tourists coming to Germany for cannabis, and from the money German courts and law enforcement will save by not prosecuting recreational cannabis cases.