Germany has partially decriminalized the use of marijuana. The new law comes into force from this Monday, April 1st.
Under the country's new legislation, people over the age of 18 in Germany will be able to possess substantial quantities of cannabis, but strict rules will make it difficult to purchase the drug.
Possession of up to 25 grams will be permitted in public spaces. In private residences the legal limit will be 50 grams.
Police in some parts of Germany, such as Berlin, already often turn a blind eye to public use, although anyone caught with the drug for adult use could be prosecuted.
During the early hours of the morning, almost 1,500 people celebrated the change amid clouds of smoke in front of the emblematic Brandenburg Gate, in the heart of Berlin.
The reform positions Germany among the most permissive countries regarding marijuana in Europe, alongside Malta and Luxembourg, which legalized recreational consumption in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
The Netherlands, a nation known for years for its liberal drug policy, has adopted a more restrictive strategy to reduce cannabis-focused tourism.
Although the law comes into force this Monday, consumers will have to wait three months to legally purchase marijuana in “cannabis social clubs”.
Before July, the purchase of marijuana will remain illegal, Georg Wurth, director of the German Cannabis Association, explained to AFP.
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