With a population of over 83 million people, Germany is currently the largest country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. The first provisions of Germany’s historic CanG legalization law took effect on April 1st, 2024, with adults 18 years old and older now permitted to cultivate, possess, and consume recreational cannabis.
Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with the implementation of the new law. Leading up to the legalization implementation date in Germany, the nation’s conservative opposition vowed to overturn the policy change if/when they gained control of Germany’s government.
“In our view, drugs policy, particularly with respect to protecting young people, is an issue of such central significance that we will revoke the legalization of cannabis in the event we take power,” lawmaker Thorsten Frei previously stated at the time. “In any possible coalition talks, [the rolling back of the legislation] will be a firm standpoint for us.”
“It’s an illusion that the law allowing cultivation for personal use will drain the black market. It’s not the case that every consumer will grow their own or join a so-called social club,” he also said.
