The Current State of Cannabis Legalization in Germany

Written By Athar Hafiz

As of April 1, 2024, recreational cannabis was decriminalized in Germany for the first time, with the full force of recreational legalization coming into effect July 1. The new consumer oriented law, dubbed KCanG, opened the door for adults over 18 to possess, cultivate, and consume cannabis in their own private homes. However, due to the convoluted nature of the law, especially in how it treats cultivation and distribution by “cultivation clubs”, it’s unlikely that Berlin will become the new weed Amsterdam anytime soon. While so-called Cannabis Social Clubs are still being established all over Berlin, they are severely limited in how they can advertise and operate, making it a point of confusion for both locals and tourists alike hoping to get in on the green wave. To make it a bit less confusing, we’ve done the hard research to break down the key points of the bill, to spare you from navigating 66 pages of German legalese yourself. 


What’s legal: 

  • Possession, consumption, and cultivation for people 18+

  • Up to 25g of cannabis in person and 50g at home

  • Up to three living plants

  • Handling seeds; Seeds can only be imported from member EU states

  • Home cultivation for personal consumption

  • Private home cultivation (presumably for distributing in a cannabis collective)

  • Cultivation Associations (dubbed Cannabis Clubs) that are registered as either 1) non-commercial associations or 2) cooperatives whose sole purpose is the non-commercial cultivation and distribution of cannabis, propagation materials, and harm reduction/awareness education among its members.


Here’s what’s not:

  • Possession, consumption, and cultivation for people under 18 years old. 

  • Consuming weed 

    • around people under 18

    • in sight or less than 100m from the entrance of schools, children’s playgrounds, children’s and youth facilities, publicly accessible sports facilities

    • In pedestrian zones between 7am and 8pm

    • In sight of or within fenced areas of cultivation associations

    • In military areas

    • General advertising or sponsorships for any type of cannabis clubs

  • Growing more than 3 cannabis plants in your residence

  • Selling weed to third parties (non-cannabis club members) 


To become a member of a club, members

  • Must be over 18+ as shown on ID or official document

  • Must be residents or have habitual abode in Germany

  • Can only be members of one association at a time

  • Must disclose electronically or in writing that they are not members of any other clubs

  • Must be member of club for minimum of 3 months


The bill gets a bit contradictory around the distribution of seeds and props, with clear rules being set for operators of cannabis clubs but not the rest of the general population. The primary regulation seems to be on the type of seeds and strains as needing to originate from the EU, otherwise plant shoots and seeds. 

As a whole, the current bill seems to be set up most in favor of responsible consumption and cultivation by hobbyist growers who wish to grow and consume their own strains. The hurdles are a bit more difficult to overcome for social clubs who want to establish cannabis-friendly communal smoking spaces, or for clubs looking to cash in on legalization by selling weed products. We will see how this all develops, but one thing is forsure- if you want to get your hands on some green, for now the best thing to do is to start by growing you own!

Updated as of July 24, 2024

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Athar Hafiz