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Local Germany
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
One year on: What does the future hold for Germany's cannabis legalisation law?
Today marks the one year anniversary of cannabis legalisation in Germany, b ut while the law has clearly changed, the debate has not. Leaders of the conservative Union parties (CDU/CSU) had previously vowed to repeal the legalisation law as soon as they came back to power. With the Union gearing up to lead Germany's next government, the question remains open as to whether recreational cannabis use will remain legal through the coming term. So far, however, we've heard only 'utterly deafening silence' on the topic, as columnist Brian Melican put it in his recent analysis of the government coalition talks . That's not to say that the topic has been exhausted. A look at reports in the German media today reveals that the debate rages on, and it hasn't evolved much since this time last year. The President of the German Medical Association is still railing against legalisation – now calling for the law to be scrapped. He told Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (NOZ) that allowing cannabis consumption is a 'danger to young people' and claims it is 'a misconception that this form of legalisation reduces damage to health'. Other opponents to legalisation include Bavaria's health and interior ministers, who both come from the socially conservative CSU. On the other side, there are plenty of experts to be found who are in favour of keeping cannabis legal, including people from some seemingly unlikely positions. Germany's police union (GdP), for example, has suggested it'd be a mistake to "completely bury" the reform. Advertisement The Federal Government's Drug Commissioner has also defended cannabis legalisation, suggesting that the focus should instead be on controlling harder drugs like fentanyl, which are increasingly putting young people at risk. Also, legalisation has not really affected peoples' likelihood of consuming cannabis, addiction researcher Jakob Manthey told Deutschlandfunk . A member of the Cannabis Social Club (CSC) Ganderkesee examines the cannabis plants in a grow space. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hauke-Christian Dittrich Meanwhile, the general public appears to be more or less evenly split on the issues. According to the NOZ's report, 38 percent of people in Germany support keeping legalisation in place whereas 38 percent would like to see it outlawed again. Where are the promised cannabis clubs? Part of the legalisation law – which allows adults over 18 to possess up to 50 grams of cannabis – is that 'cannabis clubs' selling regulated weed to registered members could start operating in July last year. But as The Local has reported, there have been long delays and bureaucratic barriers preventing clubs from taking off in many places. Germany's federal states are responsible for regulating and issuing licences to cannabis clubs. In many cases, entrepreneurs hoping to launch legal cannabis businesses have complained that the procedures for applying for permits are unclear. Advertisement BR24 reported that as of April 1st, not a single cannabis club has been approved in Bavaria. There the state office for health and food safety has reportedly received 37 applications for a permit. So far one application was rejected, eight were withdrawn, and 28 are still being examined. READ ALSO: Bavaria moves to ban cannabis at Oktoberfest and beer gardens Reportedly 83 permits for cannabis clubs were being processed in other federal states as of the end of last year, especially in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. Some German districts, however, appear to be moving forward a bit more earnestly. In the cities of Frankfurt and Hanover, cannabis businesses have been set-up to a limited extent as part of pilot projects that are planned to run for five years. READ ALSO: How two German cities will test out selling cannabis at dedicated shops Advertisement How has the law affected cannabis use in Germany? According to the Berlin police, legalisation has not yet succeeded in reducing cannabis trade on the black market. 'There is almost no relief,' a Berlin police spokesman said on RBB radio. A Berlin police report says that almost six tonnes of marijuana were seized in the capital city in 2024, significantly more than the 1.6 tonnes seized in 2023. Legalisation advocates, however, may contend that black market sales can't be expected to decrease until access to cannabis clubs or other legal businesses are more firmly established. A person smokes a joint in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hannes P Albert In the meantime, some cannabis users in Germany are taking advantage of the newfound legal ability to grow their own supply. Adults over 18 may grow up to three cannabis plants on their property. For those who don't want to wait for clubs to open or for their own plants to grow, new online services are offering 'medical cannabis' by delivery. In many cases, users can obtain a 'medical prescription" for cannabis with a quick online questionnaire and then order marijuana products directly to their German address. Medical cannabis has been legal in Germany for several years - though of course, prescriptions shouldn't obtained on false pretences. So far, these online delivery schemes have been tolerated by the authorities - though how long they continue to be remains to be seen. FACT CHECK: Are German police really advising football fans to smoke cannabis?
Russia Today
28-03-2025
- Automotive
- Russia Today
German foreign minister calls for iPhone update tax
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has proposed introducing a fee on iPhone software updates as a response to new US tariffs on EU goods, according to the newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. The proposal follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump this week of an additional 25% tariff on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of imported cars and auto parts from the EU, expected to take effect next week. Trump warned of further measures if the bloc responded with its own levies. Speaking at the Berlin European Conference on Thursday, Baerbock cited the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), adopted in 2022, which includes mechanisms for responding to external trade pressure. 'If others … propose a 25% tariff, then we can put our entire toolbox on the table,' Baerbock said. She suggested one option could be a levy on digital services: 'How often do we update our iPhone? Add ten cents to it – that would bring a lot of money for Europe, though others might not like [it] so much.' Read more Trump threatens Canada and EU with new tarriffs The report, however, questioned whether European consumers – who might ultimately bear the cost – would support the German foreign minister's proposal. According to German daily NOZ, citing data from Statista on Thursday, there are approximately 165 million iPhone users in the EU. With iPhones typically receiving six to ten software updates per year, a €0.10 levy per update could generate around €165 million ($178 million) annually. Apple reported a global net profit of $36.3 billion in the first fiscal quarter of 2025, according to company filings. The US has long accused the EU of unfair trade practices, including high tariffs on American goods and regulatory hurdles affecting American companies. In February, Trump said he would impose 25% levies on all imports from the EU, claiming the bloc was created to 'screw' America. The latest tariffs could hit the German auto industry hardest, with carmakers like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz facing significant challenges in the US market, analysts say. Rising production costs and factory closures have already put pressure on parts of Germany's manufacturing sector. Trump's 25% tariff hike on steel and aluminum supplies from the bloc took effect on March 12, following the expiration of previous exemptions, duty-free quotas, and product exclusions. In response, the EU announced it would impose counter-tariffs on €26 billion worth of US goods beginning in April. A similar trade dispute unfolded during Trump's first term, when he slapped tariffs of 25% on European steel and 10% on aluminum, prompting retaliatory measures from Brussels. The measures impacted more than $10 billion worth of transatlantic trade.
