No, weed is not illegal in Germany for adults. Since April 1, 2024, the Cannabis Act (Cannabisgesetz) has allowed anyone 18 or older to possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis in public and up to 50 grams at home, and to grow a small number of plants for personal use. Cannabis was removed from the Narcotics Act entirely. That said, there are no shops, you cannot bring it across the border, and going over the possession limits can still land you in criminal court.
How Much You Can Legally Have
The limits are strict ceilings, not guidelines. Adults can carry up to 25 grams of dried cannabis in public and keep up to 50 grams at home for personal use.1Federal Ministry of Health. Frequently Asked Questions on the Cannabis Act What happens if you go over depends on how far:
- Between 25 and 30 grams in public, or 50 to 60 grams at home: administrative offense, fines up to €30,000.
- More than 30 grams in public, or more than 60 grams at home: criminal offense, up to three years in prison.1Federal Ministry of Health. Frequently Asked Questions on the Cannabis Act
Selling cannabis outside the regulated cultivation association system is a criminal offense regardless of quantity, punishable by up to three years in prison. The five-gram buffer between legal and criminal is narrow. If you are carrying, know exactly how much.
How You Can Legally Get It
There are only two legal supply routes in Germany, and both come with a residency requirement.
Growing at Home
Adults can grow up to three flowering plants at their residence for personal use.1Federal Ministry of Health. Frequently Asked Questions on the Cannabis Act You must have had your residence in Germany for at least six months before cultivating. The cannabis you grow is for your own consumption only, and giving or selling it to anyone else is not allowed. Seeds and cuttings can be bought commercially in Germany or imported from other EU countries.
Cultivation Associations
Since July 1, 2024, non-profit cultivation associations have been the only legal way to obtain cannabis without growing it yourself. These are membership organizations that grow collectively and distribute to members at cost. They are not dispensaries or coffee shops. The core rules:1Federal Ministry of Health. Frequently Asked Questions on the Cannabis Act
- Maximum 500 members per association.
- Members must be 18 or older and have lived in Germany for at least six months.
- Minimum membership duration of three months, written into the law specifically to prevent cannabis tourism.
- Up to 25 grams per member per day.
- Monthly cap of 50 grams for members 21 and over; 30 grams for members 18 to 20, with a 10 percent THC ceiling.
- Up to 7 seeds or 5 cuttings per month for members who want to grow at home.
Associations must sit at least 200 meters from schools, youth facilities, and playgrounds. They cannot mix cannabis with tobacco, nicotine, or food, and they cannot dispense alcohol or tobacco. As of late 2024 very few associations were operational, and the approval process has moved slowly. Most adults using cannabis legally are growing their own.
Where You Can and Cannot Smoke
Legal possession does not mean you can light up anywhere. Consumption is banned:1Federal Ministry of Health. Frequently Asked Questions on the Cannabis Act
- Within 100 meters of the entrance to schools, daycare centers, youth facilities, playgrounds, or publicly accessible sports facilities.
- In pedestrian zones between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- In the immediate vicinity of anyone under 18.
- Inside a cultivation association or within sight of its entrance.
These rules cover smoking and vaping alike. Your home is the safest place to consume without worrying about proximity.
Driving and Cannabis
Driving under the influence is still illegal, and Germany now sets a specific blood-THC limit. Since August 22, 2024, the threshold is 3.5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood serum. A first offense carries a €500 fine, two points on your driving record, and a one-month driving ban. Repeat offenses can bring fines up to €3,000 and driving bans up to three months.
Two situations are treated more harshly. Novice drivers face a complete ban on any detectable cannabis. And for every driver, combining cannabis with any amount of alcohol is a zero-tolerance violation, even if neither substance alone would exceed its limit.
What This Means for Tourists
Visitors can technically possess up to 25 grams and consume in permitted places, the same as residents. The problem is supply. Both legal routes, home cultivation and cultivation association membership, require at least six months of German residency, and the three-month minimum membership period for associations was written specifically to shut out cannabis tourism.1Federal Ministry of Health. Frequently Asked Questions on the Cannabis Act
Bringing cannabis into Germany from another country is illegal, including from the Netherlands or any other EU state. Taking it out is also prohibited. Both carry serious penalties, including possible imprisonment.
No Shops, No Dispensaries
Germany has no recreational cannabis shops, dispensaries, or commercial retail of any kind. The law was built around non-commercial cultivation. A limited pilot program for commercial sales in select cities has been discussed, but as of early 2026 it is still in planning rather than operation. If someone on the street offers to sell you cannabis, that transaction is criminal for both of you.
If You Have an Old Conviction
For people previously convicted of conduct that is no longer criminal under the Cannabis Act, the existing sentence is automatically considered served. You do not need to apply. Courts handling appeals must apply the new law on their own initiative. Where an old conviction mixed now-legal conduct with still-criminal conduct such as dealing, a court can re-determine the sentence to reflect only the part that remains illegal. Courts have declined, though, to cut sentences simply because the new statute might carry lower minimums for conduct that is still criminal under both laws.