About 4.5 million Greeks consume cannabis.
A demonstration in favor of the legalization of the drug in Berlin, last year/Reuters
The German parliament voted overwhelmingly yesterday (Friday) in favor of the legalization of cannabis.
407 legislators supported the law promoted by the coalition, compared to 226 who opposed it.
According to the new law, which will enter into force on April 1, adults over the age of 18 will be allowed to keep three cannabis plants at home for personal use.
Also, German citizens will be able to keep up to 50 grams of the drug at home, and carry up to 25 grams in public.
However, cannabis remains illegal for minors, and its consumption will be very limited for young people.
Also, the consumption of cannabis near schools and playgrounds will be prohibited by law.
"The goal is to thwart the illegal trade in drugs, and the crime derived from it. To reduce the amount of drug deals and those who use them," the German Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, explained the law.
The conservative opposition attacked the legalization of the drug, and warned of its consequences.
"You claim in all seriousness that by legalizing more drugs we can contain drug use among young people," said MP Tino Sorga from the Christian Democratic Party.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life."
But Lauterbach said this amounts to "burying one's head in the sand": not only has cannabis use soared among young people, whose developing minds were most at risk, but the drugs on the streets are stronger and more polluted, greatly increasing their harm.
According to estimates, about 4.5 million Germans consume cannabis.
Some lawmakers wondered if the new regulations would have much of an impact on the drug trade, because those unwilling to grow cannabis themselves or join a cannabis club might still prefer to buy the drug on the street.
From July 1st, cannabis will be available for consumption in designated clubs as well.
The clubs must have a license to sell cannabis, and operate non-profit.
Each club will be able to register 500 people, all over the age of 18. Only club members will be allowed to consume the drug.
Germany is the third European country to allow personal use of cannabis and remove it from the list of prohibited substances.
Malta and Luxembourg were the first to do so.
The Netherlands prohibits the possession of the drug, but in some of the country's cities cannabis is sold legally in designated shops as part of the country's containment policy.
In Germany they emphasized that Berlin will not become Amsterdam, full of coffee shops where you can smoke cannabis.
In the United States, Australia and other countries, different states impose different laws on the consumption of cannabis.
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