The recreational use of cannabis will be legal in Germany by the end of the year. New legislation will allow private cultivation and distribution through non-profit groups, but not the widespread sale of cannabis in stores.
The new rule also provides for a pilot project for a small number of licensed stores in some regions to test the effects of a commercial recreational cannabis supply chain on public health, child protection and the black market. "The previous cannabis policy has failed. Now we have to take new paths," Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said.