Cannabis law in Berlin: what is legal?

The rules at a glance

Possession

Adults may carry up to 25 grams of dried cannabis in public. At home, up to 50 grams is allowed, plus the harvest of your own permitted plants. Clearly exceeding these amounts is a criminal offence; small excesses can lead to a fine.

At home, cannabis must be stored so that children and teenagers cannot reach it, for example in a lockable cupboard.

Growing at home

Every adult may grow up to three cannabis plants at a time at their place of residence. The plants and the harvest must be protected from access by others, especially minors. Giving away or selling your harvest is prohibited.

If you rent, also check your tenancy agreement; the smell can cause conflict with neighbours.

Cannabis clubs (Anbauvereinigungen)

Since 1 July 2024, non-profit growing associations can apply for a licence. Key points:

• maximum 500 members, all adults who have lived in Germany for at least six months,
• you can only be a member of one club,
• members can receive at most 25 g per day and 50 g per month,
• for 18–21-year-olds: at most 30 g per month with a maximum of 10% THC,
• no consumption on club premises or within sight of them,
• advertising is prohibited.

Licences are issued by the state authorities. For current information on Berlin, see berlin.de.

Where cannabis use is banned in Berlin

Using cannabis in public is generally allowed, with important exceptions. It is banned:

• in the direct presence of anyone under 18,
• within sight of schools, children's and youth facilities, playgrounds and publicly accessible sports facilities (beyond 100 m from the entrance counts as out of sight),
• in pedestrian zones between 7 am and 8 pm,
• in and within sight of cannabis clubs.

House rules, non-smoking laws and park regulations also apply. Many Berlin bars, clubs and venues ban cannabis on their premises.

Cannabis and driving

The legal THC limit for driving is 3.5 ng/ml in blood serum. Above that, you risk a fine, penalty points and a driving ban. New drivers on probation and anyone under 21 face a total ban. Combining cannabis and alcohol while driving is strictly prohibited.

Tourists and newcomers

• The possession and public-use rules apply to all adults in Germany, including visitors.
• Cannabis clubs are only open to people who have lived in Germany for at least six months, so tourists cannot join.
• There are no legal cannabis shops or "coffee shops" in Berlin. Buying from street dealers is illegal, and the product may be contaminated or contain synthetic cannabinoids.
• Bringing cannabis into or out of Germany is illegal, including from or to countries where it is legal.

Protection of minors

Cannabis remains prohibited for minors. Supplying it to anyone under 18 is a criminal offence. The reason: the brain keeps developing until about the mid-twenties, and early, regular use is linked to higher health risks. Young people caught using cannabis are referred to prevention and early-intervention programmes.

Parents and professionals can find support at the Berlin Office for Addiction Prevention (Fachstelle für Suchtprävention, mostly in German).

What is still illegal

• buying or selling cannabis outside a licensed club (the black market remains illegal),
• passing cannabis to other people, even for free, outside the legal exceptions,
• advertising and sponsorship for cannabis and cannabis clubs,
• importing cannabis or taking it across borders.

That's why buying, selling and brokering are strictly banned in our community groups too.

Other drugs

All other illegal substances (e.g. MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine outside medical use) remain covered by the Narcotics Act (BtMG). Possession, purchase and dealing are criminal offences. For ways to reduce risk, see Safer use; for help, see Help & support.

Sources

• Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), gesetze-im-internet.de (German)
• Federal Ministry of Health: Cannabis (German)
• infos-cannabis.de, Federal Institute for Public Health (German)