By Damien McGuinnessBBC News, Berlín


The German parliament has backed a new legislation to allow the recreational use of cannabis.
Underneath the legislation, over-18s in Germany will be authorized to have considerable amounts of hashish, but strict regulations will make it difficult to buy the drug.
Cigarette smoking cannabis in numerous community spaces will develop into lawful from 1 April.
Possession of up to 25g, equal to dozens of robust joints, is to be allowed in community areas. In non-public properties the lawful limit will be 50g.
Presently police in some pieces of Germany, these kinds of as Berlin, frequently turn a blind eye to smoking cigarettes in community, despite the fact that possession of the drug for leisure use is illegal and can be prosecuted. Use of the drug amongst younger folks has been soaring for several years despite the present regulation, suggests Overall health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is instigating the reforms.
He wishes to undermine the black market place, defend people who smoke from contaminated hashish and slash income streams for organised crime gangs.
But legal cannabis cafes will not all of a sudden spring up all above the place.
A ferocious discussion about decriminalising cannabis has been raging for several years in Germany, with doctors’ teams expressing problems for young people today and conservatives indicating that liberalisation will fuel drug use.
Soon after a stormy session on Friday in the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, the vote was ultimately passed by 407 votes to 226.
Simone Borchardt of the opposition conservative CDU advised MPs that the authorities had absent in advance with its “fully unneeded, confused legislation” no matter of warnings from medical professionals, police and psychotherapists.
But Mr Lauterbach stated the latest situation was no longer tenable: “The variety of individuals aged between 18 and 25 has doubled in the earlier 10 several years.”
Soon after the vote he reported the legislation would “dry out the black market” and resolve “a unsuccessful drug policy”.
As so often in Germany, the regulation permitted by MPs is challenging.
Cigarette smoking cannabis in some parts, these kinds of as around faculties and sporting activities grounds, will nevertheless be illegal. Crucially, the market place will be strictly regulated so acquiring the drug will not be quick.
Original options to make it possible for certified retailers and pharmacies to sell hashish have been scrapped around EU concerns that this could direct to a surge in drug exports.
Alternatively, non-industrial members’ golf equipment, dubbed “hashish social golf equipment”, will improve and distribute a constrained total of the drug.
Just about every club will have an upper restrict of 500 customers, consuming hashish onsite will not be permitted, and membership will only be offered to German people.
Increasing your personal hashish will also be permitted, with up to 3 marijuana vegetation authorized per residence.
This usually means that Germany could be in the paradoxical situation of enabling possession of rather massive amounts of the drug, even though at the same time generating it tricky to buy.
Frequent smokers would profit, but occasional consumers would wrestle to purchase it legally and visitors would be excluded. Critics say this will basically fuel the black current market.
Above the up coming couple decades, the federal government wishes to evaluate the affect of the new law, and sooner or later introduce the accredited sale of hashish.
But supplied how tortuous the debate has been so significantly, almost nothing is particular.
Meanwhile, opposition conservatives say that if they get into govt future calendar year, they will scrap the regulation fully. Germany is not likely to turn out to be Europe’s new Amsterdam whenever before long.
Pay attention: Why is Thailand making hashish unlawful all over again?
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