Germany Poised to Legalize Adult-Use and Sale of Cannabis

It is being reported that Germany is poised to follow the lead of countries like Holland and some American states by legalizing the consumption and retail sale of cannabis. An agreement has apparently been reached that will allow for the adult use of cannabis and the creation of a regulated adult-use retail cannabis industry.

During the last election in Germany, lengthy bipartisan discussions took place about reforming Germany’s cannabis laws that included representatives from all the major political parties from the nation. A measure to formally propose these reforms is expected at the upcoming session from members of the incoming governing coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the Greens. It is being suggested that such changes in Germany’s cannabis laws will help to control the quality of cannabis available to the public and protect minors and others by preventing the transfer of contaminated product.

The law is expected to be evaluated four years into the announced reforms to gauge the social impact of the relaxed conditions. Germany will be joining the two nations that have essentially legalized personal use by adults; Uruguay and Canada. 

It is estimated that cannabis legalization in Germany could generate annual tax revenues and cost savings of roughly 4.7 billion euros ($3.4 billion) and create as many as 27,000 new jobs, according to a survey by the Institute for Competition Economics (DICE) at the Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf.