The drug laws in Germany have evolved over the last 30 years. But for many, these changes have not been welcome. As time has progressed, the penalties for possession, selling, and usage of certain drugs have become more severe.
However, laws surrounding the private consumption of marijuana tend to be more relaxed in Germany.
For instance, if a police officer catches an individual smoking a joint, they will generally take the joint away and let the person off with a warning. That’s right, no further repercussions.
With this being said, it’s not as straightforward as lighting up a blunt and thinking you’ll be safe from the law. German law does prohibit marijuana under some circumstances.
Today, we are going to take a look at cannabis laws in Germany. We will discover whether medicinal marijuana is legal and what exactly happens if you are caught with weed.
Recreational Marijuana – Legal Or Illegal In Germany?
As it stands, recreational marijuana is completely illegal in Germany (even in Berlin which surprises many!)
If you are caught with weed in public, you could face penalties, but this usually depends on the police officer and how much you have on you.
In Berlin, for instance, cannabis is highly tolerated. Many people enjoy smoking weed in parks, at various bars, and even on the streets. Most of the time, people will leave you alone if you’re smoking a doobie.
But, this is not the case in all German states. Cannabis use is not tolerated in most German states, so you could face trouble if caught using it in public.
A new coalition government was elected in Germany in 2021. Much to the delight of German weed lovers, the newly formed government wants to legalize recreational cannabis throughout the whole country.
This was actually part of the coalition agreement. Therefore, cannabis may become legal in Germany over the next few years, but this is not set in stone.
Medicinal Marijuana – Legal Or Illegal In Germany?
Unlike recreational cannabis use and possession, medicinal marijuana is legal. This cannabis is for people who are seriously ill and they have needed a prescription to own it since 2017.
However, cannabis is rarely prescribed in Germany with only a few hundred citizens having a prescription.
CBD – Legal Or Illegal In Germany?
The type of CBD product you have tends to determine if it is legal or not.
CBD flowers are illegal for consumers to buy, but processed CBD products that contain less than 0.2% THC are legal. Therefore, CBD oil that has less than 0.2% THC is legal.
Even some illegal CBD flowers and seeds are sold in various stores if you look closely enough.
Marijuana Seeds – Legal Or Illegal In Germany?
Current law states that cannabis seeds are illegal. However, these seeds are considered legal if “they are not intended for unauthorized cultivation.”
Cannabis seeds are available via the internet with Royal Queen Seeds being a popular site for these purchases. If you shop on this website, you can purchase the seeds with bitcoins.
In most cases, it is easy to order seeds without any repercussions. But, it still comes with an element of risk. In 2021, for example, German customs officers seized marijuana seeds that were sent by post.
Therefore, Sensi Seeds, a prominent player in the world of cannabis seed sales, stopped shipping seeds to Germany.
The good news, though, is that the people who ordered those seized seeds simply got a letter in the post from the police. Although they shouldn’t get into too much trouble, their package was not what they expected!
Can You Transport Weed To Germany From Other Countries?
It is illegal to bring any weed into Germany. So, if you buy it in the Netherlands, you will not be allowed to travel with it to Germany.
On occasions, there will be random stops to check buses, trains (You might be interested in checking out What Does Bing Bong Mean?), and vehicles that have come from the Netherlands. Sometimes, sniffer dogs are used to detect drugs, too.
So, although it’s easier to buy good-quality weed in the Netherlands, traveling with it to Germany, or any other country, is not worth the risk (Check out Is Cannabis Legal In Israel?).
Can You Grow Marijuana In Germany?
Simply put, no – you can not grow your own marijuana in Germany as it is completely illegal.
What Penalties Are There If You Are Caught With Marijuana In Germany?
If you are found to be in possession of marijuana by the police, you could face some serious consequences. Firstly, the police may take you to the police station and question you about the cannabis.
They may ask where you got it, why you had it, and if you intend to deal it. This is especially true if you have a large quantity on you.
When in the police station, the police will take your photo and ask for information. In most cases, though, they will simply let you go.
If this happens, be polite, do what you’re told, and you will be let off with a warning. Nothing more, and most importantly, no criminal record.
After a few weeks, you should receive a receipt for your visit to the police station. At this time, the case will usually still be open, so you do not have to do anything. But, at this point, there is a bit of a tense waiting game.
After this, you will receive another letter with possible legal instructions or it will state that the case is closed and you are not in any further trouble.
Again, Berlin police may be more lenient than those in other German states. In Berlin, less than 10 to 15 grams is regarded as a small amount.
In this case, it’s up to the police officer to choose to let you go or arrest you. But, most of the time, you will be let go – but don’t count on it.
If you are caught with more than a small amount of weed on you, then you will almost definitely get into trouble.
In Summary
Next time you’re fancying a smoke in Germany, come back to this article to make sure you won’t get in any kind of trouble.
With cannabis becoming legal in more places (about time!) I think that more people need to become acquainted with it and how to use it.
Hi, my name is David Barton and I have been using medical cannabis for almost a year.
After I developed panic attacks in my final year of college, I felt powerless. The anxiety was so bad that I could barely leave the house. I couldn’t maintain a job, I alienated myself from my friends and family, and I felt downright miserable.
No one around me used cannabis, so I had to learn all about it on my own while using it. It was more difficult than you might think!
That is why I created my website, to teach anyone else struggling all they need to know about cannabis. It’s a fun topic to learn about, and I’m sure you’ll all need this information in the future!
