Germany’s first cannabis social club has officially been approved, just one week after the new law permitting such establishments came into effect.

Lower Saxony’s Minister of Agriculture, Miriam Staudte, announced that her office granted the permit to Social Club Ganderkesee on Monday. This permit allows the cooperative to start cultivating marijuana for its members, marking a significant development in the implementation of Germany’s cannabis legalisation law.

Other permits are anticipated to be granted across the country in the coming weeks. However, certain states, such as Bavaria, have indicated that they will impose restrictions, delaying permit issuance until at least autumn.

Staudte described this initial permit issuance as a “historic step for consumer protection and controlled cannabis cultivation in Germany.”

Since April, it has been legal for adults in Germany to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use. However, until now, there has been no legal way to obtain cannabis.

The social clubs will be limited to 500 members each and will be able to sell up to 50 grams of marijuana per person per month.

The role of cannabis social clubs

The introduction of these social clubs is seen as a vital measure in combating the black market. Carmen Wegge, a lawmaker from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), stated, “Even if you don’t have a particularly green thumb, a cannabis social club is certainly a good alternative.”

Future developments in German cannabis legislation

Advocates and stakeholders are still awaiting details on the government’s plan for the second pillar of the cannabis law, which is expected to include a broader commercial sales model. This future development is anticipated to further regulate and expand the legal cannabis market in Germany.

Local support and political involvement

The opening of the Social Club Ganderkesee was also attended by Deputy Mayor Cord Schütte and Chamber President von Garmissen, highlighting the local support and political involvement in this new chapter of cannabis legislation.

Germany’s approach to cannabis legalisation and the establishment of social clubs is being closely watched, as it represents a significant shift in drug policy and consumer protection.

Germany opens its first cannabis social club after legalisation

Germany’s first cannabis social club has officially been approved, just one week after the new law permitting such establishments came into effect.

Staudte described this initial permit issuance as a “historic step for consumer protection and controlled cannabis cultivation in Germany.”

Since April, it has been legal for adults in Germany to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use. However, until now, there has been no legal way to obtain cannabis.

The social clubs will be limited to 500 members each and will be able to sell up to 50 grams of marijuana per person per month.

Impaired driving regulations

A separate measure adopted by federal lawmakers sets a per se THC limit for impaired driving. This controversial legislation, due to a lack of scientific evidence supporting its efficacy, states that drivers will be considered impaired if they have more than 3.5 ng/ml of THC in their blood. Additionally, the amendment bans driving if a person has used both marijuana and alcohol, regardless of the amounts consumed.

Recent changes to Germany’s cannabis laws

Last month, German lawmakers approved a series of amendments to the country’s marijuana legalisation law. These changes impose restrictions related to impaired driving and give states more authority to set limits on cannabis cultivation within their borders.

The amendments stemmed from an earlier agreement between the federal government and legislators, designed to avoid a months-long delay in implementing the legalisation law.

One key change allows states greater flexibility to set restrictions on cultivation at cooperatives that can now start dispensing cannabis to members. Regional governments will be able to impose limits on the size of a cooperative’s cultivation canopy.

International cooperation on cannabis policy

Government officials from several countries, including the US, met in Germany last November to discuss international marijuana policy issues as the host nation worked to enact legalisation.

A group of German lawmakers, along with Narcotics Drugs Commissioner Burkhard Blienert, visited the US in 2022 to tour California cannabis businesses. This visit was part of their effort to gather insights to inform Germany’s approach to legalisation.

This visit followed a first-of-its-kind meeting where top officials from Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Netherlands discussed the plans and challenges associated with recreational marijuana legalisation.

In 2021, leaders of Germany’s coalition government announced that they had reached an agreement to end cannabis prohibition and establish regulations for a legal industry, with details of the plan previewed in 2022.

A novel international survey released in 2022 found majority support for legalisation in several key European countries, including Germany.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ (UN) drug control body recently reiterated that it considers legalising marijuana for non-medical or scientific purposes a violation of international treaties. However, it also acknowledged that Germany’s government had scaled back its cannabis plan ahead of the recent vote.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any THC product.

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