April 1 marked a milestone in the adoption of cannabis in Europe, as Germany, one of the biggest countries in this continent, has legalised cannabis for recreational use, despite that medical associations and opposition politicians disagreed with this fact. The initial provision of the new law permitted individuals aged 18 and above to either grow up to three cannabis plants at home or possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis. With the new law adopted, Germany has become one of the most liberal countries regarding the use of cannabis in Europe, which can have both good and bad benefits.
Malta and Luxembourg are other countries in Europe that have legalised the use of cannabis back in 2021 and 2023, and The Netherlands is also a country that has a permissive attitude to cannabis use, but recently, it has adopted a more robust approach to counter cannabis tourism. Hundreds of people became happy with this new law, saying it offered them more freedom. This is why huge crowds have gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin to celebrate the legalisation of cannabis, playing music and dancing, along with the smoke in the air from the lit cigarettes.
The next step of the new law is to enable people to get weed legally from the cannabis clubs scattered around the country. These cannabis clubs are overseen organizations with a capacity for up to 500 members each, allowing them to allocate 50 grams of cannabis per person monthly. These measures will be adopted on July 1, but individuals will not need to tell police from where they have bought their weed in case of street control until then.
In this article, we will explore more about the concerns this new law has raised, so keep reading to find out more.
People think cannabis approval will have a harmful impact on young people
At first, Germany planned to allow cannabis to be sold in licensed shops, but the EU opposed this measure, which made Germany opt for something else. The German government has legalised the use of cannabis for personal use, stating that this measure could help contain the black market for cannabis. At present, adults are allowed to grow a maximum of three cannabis plants at their homes. Alternatively, those who prefer not to grow their own cannabis will have the opportunity to join cannabis clubs beginning in July.
Until then, growing cannabis at home seems to be the best idea, especially because numerous strains are perfect for beginners. For example, feminised seeds are one of the best options for beginners as they will produce buds, streamline the growing process, and don’t require special conditions to grow. Cloning cannabis is also a good option for the ones wanting to grow their own plant at home, as it will preserve the genetics of the cannabis without interbreeding.
Even if several people were happy about the new legislation in Germany, health groups have raised concerns and pointed out that cannabis legalisation could increase its use among the young population, who present the highest health risks. Doctors even emphasise that the use of cannabis for young people can have a negative impact on the development of the central nervous system, which can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and psychosis.
As a response to these concerns, the government has promised to create widespread information campaigns that will boost support programs and raise awareness about the risks of using cannabis for recreational purposes. Additionally, the government has highlighted that cannabis for recreational use will be banned for citizens under 18, and people will not be able to use it within 100 meters of playgrounds, schools, and kindergartens.
What are the other concerns of this new law?
The new legislation has also raised criticism from police officers, who fear that this approval will lead to more scenarios where the police will need to interfere. Additionally, the new approval of the law could present headaches for the legal system, as it might also declare an amnesty for other cannabis-related offenses from the past. In this case, more than 200,000 cases would need to be processed and checked.
The opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, disapproves of this new rule, so he said he would repeal the law if selected in the 2025 elections.
What are the advantages of the new law?
One of the law’s most notable advantages is that the cannabis cultivation market will experience a huge boom, as individuals will finally not be scared to purchase seeds to grow at home. Additionally, the cannabis suppliers will have a lot to gain from the new legislation. Seedsman is a recognized company in the cannabis sector, created by two cannabis enthusiasts in 2002 to preserve and diversify the gene pool and make it more accessible to legal growers and seed collectors. Anyone who wants to find out more about this brand and its products can take a look at Seedsman.com.
Who’s next to legalise the use of cannabis in Europe?
Liberalisation of cannabis use is a trend that continues to spread around the world after the popular countries that have done this, including Canada and the United States. Currently, adults have permission to cultivate up to three cannabis plants within their residences. Alternatively, those who prefer not to grow their own cannabis will have the opportunity to join cannabis clubs beginning in July.
However, as you have seen, there are some exceptions to the rules, and Germany, Malta, and Luxembourg are some of them. Germany is one of the biggest powers in Europe, and the acceptance of cannabis in this country can also be a milestone for broader acceptance in other European countries. However, as Germany has just approved this new law, we will still need to wait for the effects that this measure will have on the lives of Germans. Who do you think will come next on the list of countries to approve cannabis for recreational use?