As of: February 5, 2024, 4:31 p.m
By: Sarah Isele
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Cannabis is legalized.
With the change in the law, the Republic will have to make some decisions.
What is the situation like on the road?
The federal government has made the final decision to legalize cannabis.
The federal cabinet has approved a corresponding legislative proposal that is due to come into force on April 1st.
According to this proposed law, cannabis, including the ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), will no longer be classified as narcotics in the future.
What does cannabis legalization mean for road traffic?
Sales in Germany are to be tested through model projects
In Germany, from April 1st, adults will be allowed to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis with them.
In addition, personal cultivation of a maximum of three cannabis strains will be permitted.
The government also plans to enable the cultivation and distribution of this substance through certain designated associations.
The federal government has been thinking about legalization for a long time.
Cem Özdemir also spoke out in favor of it and even presented a “surprise guest” in the background of an old video.
The previously considered specialist cannabis shops, where consumers could freely purchase the substance, are off the table for the time being.
Instead, sales in Germany should be tested in a first step through individual model projects.
However, these projects require a separate law, which is currently pending.
Road safety must not be jeopardized by experiments
The new draft law also stipulates that the Ministry of Transport will set limits for THC in connection with fitness to drive based on scientific findings.
A working group set up for this purpose is expected to present results in spring 2024.
Until then, the current regulations of the Road Traffic Act will remain in place.
The ADAC automobile club emphasizes that the partial legalization of the purchase and possession of cannabis must be strictly separated from driving while under the influence of drugs.
The level of safety in road traffic should under no circumstances be jeopardized by experiments.
The population should be fully informed about the risks
The use of cannabis can impair sensory perception and increase reaction time.
This could pose unknown risks, especially for new users who have not dealt with the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
For this reason, it is important to inform the population comprehensively about the increased risk of accidents and to make it clear that driving vehicles under the influence of drugs remains illegal.
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There has been a controversial debate in expert circles for some time as to whether the current limit for driving under the influence of cannabis is appropriate or should be raised.
Road safety experts and lawyers in Germany are in favor of increasing the currently permissible THC content in the blood.
The THC limit still needs to be determined
These experts have not decided on any specific value, but simply recommend that the legislature reconsider and, if necessary, increase the current limit of 1.0 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood serum.
The reason for this is that the current limit value can detect the consumption of cannabis, but does not allow a clear conclusion to be drawn that road safety is impaired.
There were initially fears that growing hemp plants in the garden would be illegal, but with the change in the law this is also a thing of the past.
For novice drivers, the ADAC advocates maintaining the current regulation: Due to the possible effects, the limit of 1.0 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood serum should continue to apply to them, analogous to the provisions for alcohol in Section 24c StVG.
For all other road users, a limit value should be set above which a deterioration in road safety can be expected.
Use of other measurement methods?
In addition, the suitability of other measurement methods - such as the analysis of oral cavity fluid - should be examined in order to be able to determine or prove acute impairment caused by the consumption of cannabis in close proximity to driving.
Before new measurement methods are used, their reliability must be comprehensively tested.
(rah)
This article was machine-edited and carefully checked by editor Sarah Isele before publication.