Buy Marijuana Online in Germany

 

BERLIN (AP) -- Germany's Cabinet has approved a plan to liberalize rules on cannabis, the first step in a two-part reform that will eventually allow adults to grow and consume marijuana legally. The move is a milestone for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's socially liberal coalition. It still needs parliament's approval and Brussels must review it to ensure it doesn't violate European Union framework decisions. It was scaled back from a more ambitious proposal that would have allowed cannabis to be sold in shops nationwide.

The first step will allow adults to grow marijuana plants at home and sell the drug to other members of "cannabis clubs." They will be required to keep their clubs to 500 associates, with each having burglar-proof doors and a fenced greenhouse. Adults will also be allowed to purchase marijuana at those clubs, and they can carry up to 25 grams of the drug with them without risking punishment.

A German government spokesman said Wednesday the new rules are intended to fight the black market for marijuana, which is already illegal. He added the measures are not intended to encourage recreational use. But conservative policymakers in state legislatures have slammed the move as overregulation and a continuing stigmatization of marijuana users. And an organization representing Germany's judges says the legislation will strain the judicial system by adding to the workload of prosecutions for minor offenses like possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Almost every year, police in Germany investigate hundreds of thousands of cases for marijuana possession. But these investigations often end up with little more than a warning and a fine. Investigations are thrown out in large part because authorities don't have enough resources to devote to pursuing small-time offenders. The more serious crimes require their attention. But the growing use of marijuana in Germany, along with other countries around the world, is pushing politicians to rethink prohibition.

Germany's health minister, who oversees drug policy, has been pushing the plan for a year. He has sought feedback from the European Union and is scheduled to meet with international experts next week to lay the groundwork for a strategy that could be announced by the end of March or early April.

But it's not clear the plan will be able to make it through parliament. And even if it does, it isn't clear whether the EU will accept all or parts of it. The EU commissioner for narcotic drugs, Burkhard Blienert, has scheduled a series of talks with addiction physicians, Buy weed online in Germany  associations and other experts to discuss the issue. The meetings are aimed at laying the groundwork for a legalization strategy that can be announced by the end of this month or in early April. That could set Germany up to become the first major Western economy to legalize recreational marijuana. And it could lead the way for other nations to follow suit. Associated Press writers Pietro De Cristofaro in Berlin and Mike Corder in The Hague contributed to this report.