Smoking cannabis is now legal in Germany
Germany’s move to legalize adult cannabis consumption, limited home cultivation and small-scale possession has prompted wider debate on drug policy, public health and civil liberties. Commenters contrast Germany’s relatively protective labor and tenant laws with stricter regimes in countries like Sweden and Singapore, and question how EU rules and international treaties constrain national legalization efforts. Many see benefits in decriminalization, such as reducing black markets and arbitrary policing, while others worry about mental health risks, nuisance from smoke, commercialization, and the political risk of a future rollback.
Scope of Legalization in Germany
- Thread clarifies that drug consumption has long been legal; problems were possession, buying, selling, and production.
- New law: adults may carry up to 25g, grow up to 3 plants at home, and use cannabis clubs or medical channels under strict regulation.
- Sharing cannabis is still illegal; driving limit is currently 1 ng/mL THC in blood serum (widely criticized as unrealistically low; some say it may rise to 3.5).
- Public use is restricted near schools and child-focused areas.
Work, Policing, and Legal Culture
- Several comments contrast Germany (strong worker privacy, narrow drug-testing allowances) with the US (employer drug testing common, DUI-focused enforcement).
- Some argue positive employer drug tests almost never translate into criminal charges; impact is mostly employment-related.
- Others highlight Germany’s philosophy: self-harm (including drug use or fleeing the police) is not directly criminal, but surrounding acts can be.
EU, International Law, and Politics
- Debate over whether EU rules and UN drug conventions truly block legalization.
- Examples cited of Malta, Luxembourg, Spain, Canada, and the US ignoring or stretching treaties.
- Many expect Germany’s law to be adjusted by courts and potentially rolled back by a future conservative government.
Housing and Landlord Power
- Strong consensus that German rental law gives tenants broad freedom; blanket bans on cannabis use/growing are likely unenforceable or void.
- Real-world friction noted: landlords often insert dubious clauses; tenants either ignore them or rely on tenant unions and courts.
Public Nuisance: Smell and Smoking
- Repeated complaints about cannabis smell in shared spaces, compared to tobacco and car exhaust.
- Others reply that smell nuisance is already regulated (like loud music), and alternatives like vaping/edibles are nearly odorless.
Health, Addiction, and Social Harm
- Mixed views: some see cannabis as less harmful than alcohol/tobacco; others report real life-waste and mental-health issues, especially with heavy use or high-potency products.
- Comparisons made to sugar, junk food, TV, and social media as other “addictive” harms society tolerates.
- Many emphasize legalization for quality control, reducing black markets, and ending disproportionate, often racist, policing.
Experiences from Other Countries
- Canada: after initial commercialization and supply issues, usage patterns largely unchanged; legal market now normalized.
- Netherlands: “tolerated” rather than fully legal, with grey-market production and landlord inspections in some cases.
- Sweden and Singapore discussed as hardline counterexamples where positive tests alone can be criminal.