The new weed law in Germany came into effect on the 1st of April 2024, and I think visitors to the country should know the facts.
Here is what you need to know as a tourist or traveler.
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You can read up all the new cannabis laws on the website of the German government. I have summarized in simple language the info from the Government website in this post.
If you are planning to visit Germany with teenagers, internalize the legal drinking laws.
Updated Laws as per 1st April 2024
What's the update to the Weed law in Germany? The ownership and use of Cannabis THC products has been legalized for private users in Germany. That means, only for non-commercial personal use and for adults only. This applies to all states in Germany, including Bavaria.
Can you buy Cannabis? The sale of cannabis containing THC is still Illegal and will remain illegal. You can't legally buy weed, hashish, charas, bhang, and any other weed product that contains THC in Germany.
What's the legal possession limit? One can carry up to 25 grams (0.88 ounces) dried cannabis in a public setting. In your private room, you can have up to 50 grams (1.76 ounces) dried cannabis.
What happens if one crosses the legal private weed possession limit? Having more than 5 grams (0.17 ounces) on you in a public setting or more than 10 grams (0.35 ounces) at home, will be recorded as a misdemeanor.
Can you smoke weed in public? It is forbidden to smoke or use weed in pedestrian zones, such as town squares, from 7 am to 8 pm. And one can't smoke or consume cannabis in all forms within a 100 meter (330 feet) radius of school, day cares, Kindergartens, playgrounds and public sports facilities. Think football grounds, shopping lanes (those are often pedestrian zones) and parks (playgrounds in parks).
What if a German local offers me some weed or a joint from their private cultivation? It is forbidden to share personally grown cannabis with others. Germans can grow up to three legal female plants for their private use only. Sharing it to thirds is criminalized. That means, travelers to Germany can't legally get weed in Germany.
Upcoming Laws as per 1st July 2024
The second stage of the partial cannabis legalization in Germany will be the role of so-called Cannabis clubs.
These non-profit clubs will be able to produce weed and adults can join a club.
Interestingly, these clubs will be tightly regulated. Consumption at the club will be forbidden and members can only sign up to one club at a time. 50 grams of cannabis products can be received per month from the club.
But the cannabis clubs won't be relevant to tourists because as a visitor to the country you have no way of participating in a cannabis club.
What does this all mean for Tourists?
Tourists (and locals) can't purchase Cannabis products containing THC in Germany, and this won't change.
You can't legally accept weed from a German local who has been growing it for their private use at home. This would criminalize you and him. I.e., your Airbnb host is offering you a joint.
You might think, “well, who's going to see me accepting a joint from a local”. The problem is that you could fall into a scam, which could involve extortion or blackmail.
Keep out of trouble as a visitor to a foreign country with alien laws.
The only neighboring country to Germany where cannabis containing THC is legal is the Netherlands.
Realistically, the same rules regarding private cannabis ownership, in public and private, apply to visitors to Germany. These rules will be mainly relevant to border crossing Dutch visitors.
In that case, smoking a joint won't be criminalized if you are an adult. But smoking in public is nonetheless tightly regulated.
You most certainly can't smoke weed in Germany and cross the Austrian or Czech border. Both countries have announced more random checkups at the border.
The southern German state, Bavaria, has been vehemently opposing the partial legalization, and they border Austria and the Czech Republic.
Dutch number plates have been already, since March 2024, more frequently stopped in Bavaria and Austria.
There is a total ban on smoking weed and driving all over Germany.
All Teenagers and children are barred from consuming weed. Adults that give a joint to a kid to smoke will receive a criminal penalty. You count as an adult in Germany at the age of 18.
To sum it up: The new Cannabis rules were imposed for the safety of teenagers and children in Germany. These rules do not promote Tourism, and Weed tourism is not part of future plans in Germany.
