Discover the Best Strains and Cannabis Lifestyle

Germany has voted to decriminalise cannabis possession and home growing for personal use, and also legally regulate supply in the form of non-profit membership based associations. This significant step builds upon the growing momentum across Europe and globally to move away from the failings of prohibition. The law will come into force on April 1st. Following the first vote by the Bundestag last month, there was a second vote on 22nd March in Germany’s Bundesrat, that represents the 16 German Lander (the sub-national jurisdictions under Germany’s federal government). Some of these more conservative regional Governments, notably Bavaria, have been opposed to the reform and risked holding up the process. A particular issue had been raised by regional justice ministries regarding the law’s requirement to delete previous criminal records for cannabis (offence expungement), with concerns that the process may overburden their judicial systems. The opposition wanted to establish a ‘mediation committee’ between upper and lower chambers to discuss possible changes to the law which put the expungement element at risk - this would have been a huge blow to ensuring justice for those affected by prohibition. However, today the law was passed without obstacle, explicitly stating that cannabis reform must legally be accompanied by the removal of previous criminal records.