Germany enacts the Cannabis Act (CanG), becoming Europe’s largest country to legalize adult possession and home grow

On April 1, 2024, the German Cannabis Act (Cannabisgesetz, or CanG) took effect after passing the Bundestag by a 407–226 vote on February 23, 2024 and clearing the Bundesrat on March 22. Following Malta (2021) and Luxembourg (2023), the law made Germany—with a population of 84 million and Europe’s largest economy—the biggest European Union member state to legalize adult cannabis possession and personal cultivation.

How Germany’s two-step legal model works

Because European Union Schengen agreements and international conventions restrict commercial retail cannabis imports and sales, Germany designed a non-commercial “Pillar 1” legalization model:

• Public and home possession (effective April 1, 2024): Adults aged 18 and older may possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis in public and store up to 50 grams of dried cannabis at their primary residence.
• Home cultivation (effective April 1, 2024): Every adult resident 18+ may cultivate up to 3 living cannabis plants at home for personal consumption.
• Non-profit cultivation associations (effective July 1, 2024): Starting July 1, 2024, German residents could form licensed non-profit “Cannabis Social Clubs” of up to 500 members, distributing up to 25 grams per day (and up to 50 grams per month, or 30 grams per month with a 10% THC cap for young adults aged 18–20) to registered members at cost.