Germans gathered in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate, on Monday, with joints in hand and giant pot leaves decorating their surroundings, to celebrate legislation allowing recreational marijuana to go into effect.
The new law - backed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition - allows adults to possess nearly an ounce of weed and grow up to three plants inside their homes. Starting in July, adults will also be able to join cannabis clubs, where they can purchase 25 grams of marijuana per day and up to 50 grams per month, according to the Associated Press.
"Cannabis use already existed yesterday, but it's increasing. Now it's exiting the taboo zone," German health minister Karl Lauterbach wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
"This is better for real addiction help, prevention for children and young people and for combating the black market, for which there will soon be an alternative."
While the legislation also calls for the reversal of marijuana-connected convictions, there are reportedly some concerns that will overload regional judicial systems.
Germany will be the third country in Europe, after Luxembourg and Malta, to legalize recreational marijuana. In the Netherlands, marijuana is decriminalized and available for recreational use but only in stores that are referred to as "coffeeshops."
Celebratory events were held throughout Germany, in front of cultural landmarks, including the Cologne Cathedral. At the Brandenberg Gate celebration, attendees rolled joints in front of television cameras and waived pro-legalization signs, according to CNN.
Members of the center-right Christian Democrats opposed the legislation, with party leader Friedrich Merz promising to overturn the policy if they take control in 2025.
