[heisig]

Let me summarize the key points of this law:

- Starting from April 1, German adults can legally possess a certain amount of weed (25 grams on the move, 50 grams at home), and they may consume it unless they are within 100 meters of a school or kindergarten.

- This is just the first stage of that law, where the only way to actually obtain weed (other than for medical purposes) is to grow it yourself, or to form a collective of growers. Either way, the maximum number of plants per person is three. Commercially trade of weed is planned for later, as a second stage of the law.

- While this law legalizes weed for adults, it further prevents access for minors. The law raises the penalty for selling weed to minors to a minimum of two years in prison, and people that grow their own plants must ensure that minors cannot access them. People aged between 18 and 21 are only allowed access to weed with a THC content of less than 10%. The reasoning behind all this is that weed severely impairs the brain development of young people.

- Driving while under the influence is still a crime.

- The stated goal of this law is to eliminate the black market and to stop the growing trend of minors smoking weed. A review is scheduled in 18 months, determine whether the law in the current form achieves that goal or whether it has to be tweaked further.

This law is obviously a compromise between all the parties of the German government, EU law, scientific consensus, and practicability. What I like about the law is how carefully it weighs health issues and individual liberty. All the limits (legal age, grams of possession) have a solid scientific basis.

[stavros]

These sound like eminently reasonable restrictions, I can't imagine that many people will have a problem with them, beyond "drugs are bad mmkay". Well done, Germany, I hope it sticks.

[illiac786]

I think keeping the sell illegal is not helping, it makes it look paradoxical: so what, I can own it but no one can sell it to me? Great.

Second side effect I see is that people which are occasional users (once a week, once a month) will end up having to invest in plants or membership in a club to be able to legally consume it, and that’s obviously driving higher consumption… it’s just a theory but it seems stupid to push occasional users to become regular users.