Is Germany Poised To Become The Next Weed Epicenter In Europe?

On Monday, July 8, Germany opened its first cannabis social club, just about one week after the law allowing these places took effect. Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture Miriam Staudte announced that the permit was awarded by her office to Social Club Ganderkesee.

The news comes some two months after Germany became the third country in the European Union to legalize adult-use cannabis after Malta and Luxembourg. Under this first pillar of cannabis legalization, adults over 18 can legally possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis flower and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. The German government is working on the second pillar of its cannabis legalization law –setting up municipal five-year pilot programs for state-controlled marijuana to be sold in licensed shops.

As the marijuana industry becomes more exciting in the second-most populous country in Europe, observers wonder whether Germany can become the next go-to place for weed consumption on the continent. The answer is a bit more complex to be answered as a simple yes or no, writes EuroNews.

Some Regions Say No

While other permits for more social clubs are expected soon, some regions in Germany expressed opposition. In April, Bavaria, a state in the southeast of Germany, banned cannabis consumption at the most popular beer festival in the world, Oktoberfest.

Bavaria’s local authorities are also allowed to ban weed use in public spaces like outdoor swimming pools and leisure parks such as Munich’s Englischer Garten. The government wants to prohibit weed smoking in designated smoking rooms like outdoor areas in restaurants and cafes, and it is expected that the ban will also extend to the heating and vaporization of marijuana and marijuana products, a German news agency DPA previously reported. Furthermore, Bavaria and some other states have confirmed they will impose restrictions making sure that permits for social cannabis clubs will not be given until the autumn, at the earliest.

Read Also: What Are Germans Rolling In Their Joints? This Denver Cannabis Company Found Out At Berlin’s Mary Jane Trade Fair

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

The road to social clubs and everything under the first pillar was not easy. Could it be simpler for the second, more complicated pillar? Not very likely, it seems.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach was optimistic that the legalization would happen, despite doubts from opposition politicians. He said the main goal of the new law is to stem the illicit market.

"This is an important improvement in our drug policy," Lauterbach said at the time. "With this law, we will achieve a significant reduction in the black market, better protection for children and young people and a safer product for older consumers."

He was however accused by the opposition that he is promoting drug use.

Despite many debates, strong support, and fierce opposition, the Bundestag approved partial cannabis legalization in a final floor vote on Feb 23. This was, however, a scaled-back, more restricting version of its cannabis plan, which the United Nations drug control body commended. The UN also recently reiterated that it considered cannabis legalization for recreational use a violation of international treaties. This means that Germany doesn't have much international support, concludes Euro News' Saskia O’Donoghue.

What About Tourists?

Another reason why Germany might not become the cannabis tourism hotspot anytime soon is that it is not possible for any tourists or foreigners to legally buy marijuana in the country. Even memberships in social clubs are heavily regulated, requiring residency as a prerequisite.

In the Netherlands, on the other hand, the sale and use of small amounts of weed and hashish are allowed in special "coffee shops," attracting cannabis tourists from across the globe. Contrary to widespread belief, cannabis has not been legal here over the last decade, it’s just been tolerated. A lot.

While the authorities were turning a blind eye to consumption, cannabis cultivation and supply to the popular coffee shops was completely illegal. In 2023, the country of windmills and tulips finally launched legal marijuana as part of a four-year trial across the country, and surprisingly though — Amsterdam is not part of it.

Will tourists be included in the second pillar — commercial sales? That's still not confirmed.

Is it possible that German authorities would similarly tolerate some illegal behaviors? What do you think?

Read Next:

• Huge Benefits For Medical Marijuana Patients, Opportunities For Innovation & Research – Industry Vets Weigh In On Germany’s Cannabis Reform

Cannabis rescheduling seems to be right around the corner. Want to understand what this means for the future of the industry? Hear directly for top executives, investors and policymakers at the 19th Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, coming to Chicago this Oct. 8-9. Get your tickets now before prices surge by following this link.

Photo: Courtesy of real_content via Shutterstock