Germany Will Legalize Marijuana: Action On Dark Markets, Increase Child Protection

Illustration of cannabis cultivation. (Unsplash/Richard T)

JAKARTA - Germany will join a number of countries that have legalized marijuana, after the country's federal parliament, the Bundestag, passed legislation allowing individuals and voluntary associations to grow and store marijuana in limited quantities.

The law, which was passed by the coalition of three ruling parties under Chancellor Olaf Scholz, legalized the cultivation of up to three plants for personal consumption and ownership of up to 25 grams of marijuana.

Marijuana production on a larger scale, but still non-commercial, will be permitted for members of the cannabis club with no more than 500 members, all of whom must be adults. Only club members can consume their products.

"We have two goals: cracking down on the black market and increasing protection against children and adolescents," Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said.

Some legislators have questioned whether this new regulation will have a major impact on the cannabis trade, as those who don't want to grow their own marijuana or join a cannabis club may still prefer to buy marijuana.

"You take it very seriously that by legalizing more drugs, we will limit drug use among the younger generation," said Democratic Christian legislator Tino Sorge.

"That's the stupid thing I've ever had," he said.

However, Lauterbach says that this is tantamount to'spinning our heads into the sand': not only is the use of marijuana soaring among the younger generation, whose brain development is very threatened, but illegal drugs on the streets are now becoming stronger and more impure, thus increasing the bad effects.

It is known that around 4.5 million German citizens are estimated to use marijuana. With this legalization, Germany will be the ninth country to legalize the use of drugs for recreation, which is also legal in several sub-national jurisdictions in the United States and Australia.

More countries allow medical use as a pain reliever. However, marijuana remains illegal for minors, as does consuming it near schools and playgrounds.