One more country turns the wheel and steers closer to legal marijuana. Now, speculations are running in Germany after the government’s recent announcement concerning marijuana.
In case you hadn’t yet heard the news, it turns out that the new government has decided to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana. This is the result of a new coalition between three of the german parties, the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party.
The new legislation, which is expected to become effective once the new legislative session begins, aims to establish ‘a new regulated and taxed dispensary’ as well as ‘controllable quality and effective youth protection through education,” explained Lars F. Lindemann, a regional cadre of the Free Democrats. This also means that drug harm reduction services will be provided, and advertising of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis will then face higher restrictions.
Now, the sale of marijuana will only be allowed by licensed establishments, in order to be taxed properly, and to ensure as well that ends are met in terms of quality, and that only adults have access to it.
In the meantime, until the new regulations become effective, the current status of cannabis in German territory has decriminalized the possession of the plant, while a medical cannabis program is already active.
Now, what changes can be expected after marijuana finally becomes legal in Germany?
Well, the FPD claimed in its election manifesto that applying taxes to cannabis would result in more than $1 billion euros profit per year, although the lawmakers insist that the main goal of the reform isn’t focused on boosting tax revenue for the country.
However, a big boost is well to be expected in the country in the tourism field too. Considering the huge amounts of stoner tourists that opt for destinations such as Amsterdam or Barcelona due to their fame for being cannabis-friendly hotspots, it would be no surprise for more people to take a special interest in Germany now as well. Besides, the country already counting with magnetic and cosmopolitan cities, such as the city of Berlin, where thousands and thousands of people choose to relocate daily, legal recreational marijuana will only become another great reason for doing so.
It will certainly take some time however until Germany becomes a threat to the stoner-referential spot of Amsterdam, but that’s mainly because Holland has been flexible concerning cannabis use ever since the 1970s. Just give Germany 50 years of legal marijuana and ask again later.
It’s also interesting to point out that the seem to be cold and traditional country hasn’t been too stiff in terms of cannabis anyway. As mentioned before, possession of the plant has been decriminalized, medical cannabis has been legal since 2017, and under the current law, marijuana plants can actually be grown, owned, sold, imported and exported. And although recreational use needs yet to become effectively legal, the truth is that the police tends to turn a blind eye when it comes to small amounts.
So, in case you were looking for a green light to start your own cannabis home grow op, this is the thumbs up you were hoping for. This may also explain why you keep seeing marijuana stores distributed along all of the country’s main cities. Since both medical marijuana, as well as cultivation are allowed in Germany, you’ll be able to purchase CBD buds, as well as weed seeds in mostly any corner of your favorite German cities.
Stay tuned and up to date with Germany’s upcoming laws regarding marijuana, and definitely get ready for the big celebrations that will certainly take place when recreational cannabis gets finally legalized in the german territory.