Germany cannabis legalization on schedule as bill clears final hurdle

A significant milestone has been achieved in Germany as the bill to legalize the recreational use of cannabis is poised to come into effect next month, following the successful clearance of the final hurdle by the country’s upper house of parliament without a delay.

Efforts to advance the legislation encountered a crucial moment when the lawmakers from the Bundesrat failed to secure a majority vote on Friday, preventing the referral of the bill to a mediation committee, a move that would have pushed the implementation timeline back by six months.

In a strategic move prior to the crucial vote, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented a “protocol declaration” to the Bundesrat, effectively addressing lawmakers’ concerns and ultimately sidestepping a potential delay in the implementation process.

Following the pivotal decision by the Federal Council, Minister Lauterbach, a central figure in the government’s push for legalization, expressed his satisfaction, noting that “The fight was worth it, legalization of cannabis is coming on Easter Monday!”

He emphasized the need for responsible usage, urging citizens to assist in protecting children and young individuals, while also expressing hope for a decline in illicit market activities: “Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the black market today,” he added.

In a resounding affirmation of the bill, the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, previously voted 407 to 226 in favor of the legislation proposed by Germany’s ruling parties, spearheaded by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) in late February.

The legislation, slated to go into effect on April 1, represents a partial legalization of marijuana within the country, allowing individuals to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public spaces and up to 50 grams in the confines of their private residences, among other provisions.