been no further update.
German Parliament Votes to Revamp Cannabis Laws, Including Changes to Driving Restrictions and Cannabis Clubs
On June 6, the German Bundestag (German federal parliament) made a bold move by voting to overhaul the current adult-use cannabis law. This includes significant changes to restrictions for driving and cannabis club associations.
Driving Changes Implemented by Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
The driving changes were spearheaded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, which amended the country’s Road Traffic Act. The most notable change is the new maximum THC blood content, which has been increased from one nanogram per milliliter to 3.5 nanograms per milliliter. This adjustment was made to align with the maximum alcohol blood content limit, which is 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in Germany, according to DW.com.
Bundestag Member Shares Insight Behind Decision
Bundestag member Kirsten Kappert-Gonther took to social media to share the reasoning behind the decision. “Today we are deciding on changes to the #Cannabis law. This was agreed with the Federal Council to prevent a blockade. The THC limit in road traffic will be set at 3.5ng/ml. This is how we create security and prevent #criminalization through the back door,” Kappert-Gonther stated on June 6. She also emphasized the importance of cannabis clubs in providing safe and legal options to combat the black market and promote health and youth protection.
Strict Penalties for Violations
Under the new law, the first offense of exceeding the THC blood content limit will result in a one-month driving ban and a €500 fine. Subsequent violations will result in a €1,000 fine and a two-year driving ban. Currently, drivers are tested for impairment through a saliva test. If a driver appears to be impaired, they will be required to take a blood test, even if the saliva test is negative.
Changes to Rules for Cultivation
In addition to driving restrictions, the new law also includes changes to rules for cultivation. Starting next month, cooperatives or clubs will be allowed to sell cannabis to members, with a maximum of 500 members per club. The amendment also limits the canopy size of these cooperatives. Kristine Lütke, an addiction and drug policy spokesperson for the Free Democrats Group, believes that these changes will help curb the black market and promote safe and legal cultivation.
Germany’s First Day of Legal Adult-Use Cannabis
Germany’s first day of legal adult-use cannabis was on April 1, allowing adults over 18 to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public or 50 grams at home. However, cannabis sales have not yet been implemented. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach stated in December 2023 that they are currently examining how to approach commercial sales, but there have been no further updates. Stay tuned for more developments on Germany’s evolving cannabis laws.
