https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Bavaria has maintained state-wide bans on cannabis use in parks and other places since shortly after recreational use of the substance was legalised last year. Now a state court has ruled that a ban in the English Garden was unlawful. https://www.thelocal.de/20251127/court-overturns-cannabis-ban-in-munichs-english-garden Thu, 27 Nov 2025 11:53:02 +0100 court-overturns-cannabis-ban-in-munichs-english-garden Germany is suffering an "alarming" increase in hard drug use, authorities warned Friday, with narcotics more accessible as production in Europe is on the rise. https://www.thelocal.de/20251024/german-government-warns-of-dangerous-boom-in-hard-drug-use Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:17:23 +0200 german-government-warns-of-dangerous-boom-in-hard-drug-use The German cabinet has approved plans to restrict the online sale of cannabis. In future, prescriptions for medical-grade products will likely require an in-person visit to the doctor. https://www.thelocal.de/20251013/germany-to-scrap-medical-cannabis-sales-online Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:44:18 +0200 germany-to-scrap-medical-cannabis-sales-online While cannabis has been legalised for recreational use in Germany, the country's laws around psychedelic mushrooms have not yet been relaxed. https://www.thelocal.de/20250902/whats-the-law-on-magic-mushrooms-in-germany Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:01:06 +0200 whats-the-law-on-magic-mushrooms-in-germany Some of the harshest critics of legal cannabis come from Germany's southern state, where three cannabis clubs have just been approved. The state's conservative leadership says it doesn't change their goal of repealing the legalisation. https://www.thelocal.de/20250425/bavaria-approves-first-three-cannabis-clubs-after-german-legalisation Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:00:47 +0200 bavaria-approves-first-three-cannabis-clubs-after-german-legalisation Germany legalised recreational cannabis use for adults one year ago, but it remains a contentious issue. What's changed since legalisation, and will the next government outlaw use again? https://www.thelocal.de/20250401/one-year-on-what-does-the-future-hold-for-germanys-cannabis-legalisation-law Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:31:38 +0200 one-year-on-what-does-the-future-hold-for-germanys-cannabis-legalisation-law Cocaine use is on the rise across Europe. Here's a look at the consequences of being caught in possession of the drug in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20250325/whats-the-penalty-if-youre-caught-with-cocaine-in-germany Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:00:28 +0100 whats-the-penalty-if-youre-caught-with-cocaine-in-germany The German cities of Frankfurt am Main and Hanover are to be part of a pilot project which will see cannabis sold at sales outlets in a controlled manner. https://www.thelocal.de/20241030/how-two-german-cities-will-test-out-selling-cannabis-at-dedicated-shops Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:05:47 +0100 how-two-german-cities-will-test-out-selling-cannabis-at-dedicated-shops So-called cannabis clubs will be allowed to sell the drug legally in Germany starting Monday, but in practice it will be some time before the associations get up and running. https://www.thelocal.de/20240629/legal-weed-limps-into-next-phase-in-germany Sat, 29 Jun 2024 10:29:26 +0200 legal-weed-limps-into-next-phase-in-germany The second part of Germany's cannabis legalisation law, which allows for the launch of cannabis clubs comes into effect on July 1st. But a number of questions may leave club founders stalled for months. https://www.thelocal.de/20240628/is-germany-ready-for-the-arrival-of-cannabis-clubs Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:02:38 +0200 is-germany-ready-for-the-arrival-of-cannabis-clubs The British press reported that German police encouraged football fans to smoke cannabis rather than drink alcohol ahead of England's clash with Serbia. Is that really the case? https://www.thelocal.de/20240617/fact-check-are-german-police-really-advising-football-fans-to-smoke-cannabis Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:31:06 +0200 fact-check-are-german-police-really-advising-football-fans-to-smoke-cannabis Germans love their Kleingärten - or allotment gardens. Now that cannabis has been partially legalised in Germany, some people are wondering if it is legal to grow weed there. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.de/20240516/is-it-legal-to-grow-cannabis-in-a-german-allotment-garden Thu, 16 May 2024 14:11:38 +0200 is-it-legal-to-grow-cannabis-in-a-german-allotment-garden Germany may have legalised cannabis, but anyone hoping to enjoy a joint with their beer at this year's Oktoberfest may be disappointed. https://www.thelocal.de/20240417/bavaria-moves-to-ban-cannabis-at-oktoberfest-and-beer-gardens Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:24:56 +0200 bavaria-moves-to-ban-cannabis-at-oktoberfest-and-beer-gardens Germany's controversial cannabis law has passed the final hurdle in the Bundesrat, paving the way for the drug to be partially legalised in April. https://www.thelocal.de/20240322/germany-gives-green-light-to-partially-legalise-cannabis-from-april Fri, 22 Mar 2024 13:42:36 +0100 germany-gives-green-light-to-partially-legalise-cannabis-from-april The initial approval Germany’s long discussed cannabis legalisation law has sparked a wave of backlash and criticism, and some states are calling to stall the act indefinitely. Will they have any success? https://www.thelocal.de/20240319/will-germanys-cannabis-legalisation-law-be-delayed Tue, 19 Mar 2024 15:31:29 +0100 will-germanys-cannabis-legalisation-law-be-delayed The German parliament has passed a controversial law to legalise the recreational use of cannabis with strict rules in place. https://www.thelocal.de/20240223/breaking-german-parliament-votes-to-legalise-cannabis Fri, 23 Feb 2024 17:06:46 +0100 breaking-german-parliament-votes-to-legalise-cannabis After a long discussion, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir laid out plans Wednesday for a partial legalisation of marijuana to take effect by the end of the year. https://www.thelocal.de/20230412/german-ministers-to-present-draft-law-on-cannabis-legalisation Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:47:43 +0200 german-ministers-to-present-draft-law-on-cannabis-legalisation Germany's top ministers agreed on a framework for the legalisation of cannabis on Wednesday. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.de/20221019/key-points-germany-sets-out-plans-for-cannabis-legalisation Wed, 19 Oct 2022 13:00:41 +0200 key-points-germany-sets-out-plans-for-cannabis-legalisation German Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has confirmed that the process of legalising recreational weed has started. https://www.thelocal.de/20220506/germany-set-to-legalise-cannabis-soon-says-minister Fri, 06 May 2022 18:22:03 +0200 germany-set-to-legalise-cannabis-soon-says-minister Germany's possible new government could well relax the country's strict cannabis laws. But FDP leader Christian Lindner says he doesn't want to go down the Netherlands route. https://www.thelocal.de/20211018/germany-should-make-cannabis-available-at-pharmacies-not-coffee-shops-says-fdp-boss Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:50:05 +0200 germany-should-make-cannabis-available-at-pharmacies-not-coffee-shops-says-fdp-boss