Germany's 2024 Legalization: What Actually Changed
On April 1, 2024, Germany's Cannabis Act (*Cannabisgesetz*, or CanG) took effect, making it the largest EU country to legalize recreational cannabis. Here's what the law allows:
- Adults 18+ can possess up to 25 grams in public and 50 grams at home
- Growing up to 3 plants per person for personal use is legal
- Cannabis Social Clubs (*Anbauvereinigungen*) can cultivate and distribute to up to 500 members
- Consumption is prohibited within 100 meters of schools, playgrounds, and youth facilities
- No commercial sales — there are no dispensaries or coffeeshops. You can only get cannabis through clubs, home grows, or private sharing
What's NOT allowed:
Smoking in public near children's areas or pedestrian zones during daytime
Driving under the influence (THC limit: 3.5 ng/mL blood serum)
Selling cannabis commercially — this remains illegal
Possession for minors under 18
The law is a two-phase approach. Phase one (active now) covers home growing and social clubs. Phase two would introduce licensed commercial sales in pilot regions, but this has been delayed indefinitely and may not happen under future governments.
Berlin's Cannabis Neighborhoods
Berlin's cannabis culture has deep roots in specific neighborhoods, each with its own character:
Kreuzberg (SO36)
The spiritual home of Berlin's cannabis culture. Görlitzer Park was infamous for its open-air market (now heavily policed since legalization). The surrounding streets are packed with CBD shops, headshops, and cannabis-friendly cafés. Check out Kush Gardens on Oranienstraße and the headshops along Skalitzer Straße.
Friedrichshain
Younger, more alternative crowd. RAW-Gelände area has several cannabis-friendly bars and the neighborhood hosts regular cannabis community events. The vibe is more underground and DIY.
Neukölln
Rapidly becoming the new center of cannabis culture as Kreuzberg gentrifies. Weserstraße and Sonnenallee have several CBD shops and the neighborhood's diverse community brings a more international cannabis perspective.
Wedding
More industrial, less touristy. Several CSCs are setting up here due to lower rents. The Reinickendorf area has some of Berlin's first legal grow operations.
Charlottenburg
The upscale side of Berlin's cannabis scene. Higher-end CBD boutiques and wellness-focused cannabis products along Kantstraße and around Savignyplatz.
Pro tip: Berlin's cannabis culture is everywhere but subtle. Unlike Amsterdam, there are no coffeeshops or consumption lounges (yet). The scene is social, decentralized, and often tied to bars, parks, and community spaces.
Where You Can (and Can't) Consume
Berlin is surprisingly relaxed about public cannabis consumption, but there are specific rules:
Legal to consume:
In your private residence or balcony
In most public outdoor spaces (parks, streets, plazas)
At private parties and gatherings
In designated areas at cannabis events
Illegal to consume:
Within 100 meters of schools, kindergartens, playgrounds, and youth centers
In pedestrian zones between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM
Inside bars, restaurants, or clubs (same rules as tobacco in indoor spaces)
On public transport
Enforcement reality: Berlin police have historically been lenient about cannabis. Since legalization, enforcement focuses on the 100m school/playground zones and minors. In most parks and residential areas, consumption is effectively unrestricted.
Hotels and accommodation:
Most Berlin hotels prohibit smoking of any kind indoors
Cannabis-friendly accommodations are emerging — check OFFMAP listings for verified spots
Airbnbs vary by host — always check house rules
Smoking on private balconies is generally fine
Vaping and edibles: Vaporizing cannabis falls under the same rules as smoking. Edibles can be consumed anywhere as they produce no smoke or odor — this is the most discreet option for travelers.
CBD Shops, Headshops & Legal Accessories
While you can't buy THC cannabis commercially in Berlin, the city has an extensive network of CBD and hemp shops:
Top CBD shops:
Bunte Blüte (multiple locations) — premium CBD flowers, oils, and edibles. Kreuzberg flagship is beautifully designed
Tom Hemp's (Friedrichshain) — wide selection of CBD products with knowledgeable staff
Hanf Museum (Mitte) — museum + shop combo, great for cannabis history enthusiasts
CBD Haus (Neukölln) — community-oriented shop with regular tastings
Headshops:
Udopea (Kreuzberg) — Berlin institution since the 90s, massive selection of smoking accessories
Near Dark (Friedrichshain) — vaporizers, papers, grinders, and growing supplies
Gras Grün (multiple) — modern headshop chain with online ordering
Growing supplies: Since home growing is legal (3 plants), Berlin has seen a boom in grow shops. Grow-In (Wedding) and Growland (Neukölln) offer everything from seeds to full tent setups with expert advice.
Hemp food and wellness:
Several organic supermarkets (Bio Company, Alnatura) carry hemp foods
Cannabis-infused (CBD) beverages are available at many Berlin bars
Brlo Brewery has experimented with hemp beer
Cannabis Events & Culture
Berlin hosts some of Europe's most important cannabis events:
Mary Jane Berlin (June)
Germany's largest cannabis expo, held at Arena Berlin in Treptow. Three days of exhibitors, speakers, live music, and consumption areas. Since legalization, the event has expanded massively — expect 30,000+ attendees. Tickets from €15.
Hanfparade (August)
Berlin's annual hemp parade, running since 1997. A political demonstration turned festival, marching from Alexanderplatz through the city center. Free to join, with sound systems, speakers, and a genuine counter-culture vibe.
Cannabis Week Berlin (various dates)
A newer series of conferences, networking events, and parties focused on the cannabis industry. More business-oriented — great for entrepreneurs and investors.
420 Berlin (April 20)
The city's unofficial cannabis holiday. Major gatherings in Görlitzer Park, Hasenheide, and Mauerpark. Since legalization, these have become semi-official events with food vendors and live music.
Cultural institutions:
Hanf Museum Berlin — the world's only permanent hemp museum, covering 10,000 years of hemp history
Cannabis Normal! events — regular meetups organized by Germany's cannabis normalization initiative
Berlin Cannabis Film Festival — annual screening of cannabis-related documentaries and films
Practical Tips for Cannabis Tourists
Getting cannabis as a tourist:
This is the tricky part. Since there are no dispensaries and CSCs require residency, tourists can't legally *purchase* cannabis in Berlin. However:
Private sharing/gifting between adults is legal
Many hostels and social spaces have cannabis-friendly atmospheres where sharing happens naturally
CBD products are widely available and legal for anyone to buy
The "grey area" of social connections makes Berlin's cannabis scene more about community than commerce
At the airport (BER):
Domestic flights within Germany: you can carry up to 25g legally
International flights: never carry cannabis across borders — it remains illegal under international law
Berlin Brandenburg Airport has no special cannabis screening
Transport:
BVG (public transport) prohibits smoking/vaping but enforcement is minimal
Cannabis possession on public transport is completely legal (up to 25g)
Taxis and rideshares: don't consume in vehicles
Language:
Cannabis = *Cannabis* or *Gras* (grass)
Joint = *Joint* or *Tüte*
Cannabis social club = *Anbauvereinigung*
Do you have a light? = *Hast du Feuer?*
Best time to visit: Late spring through early fall (May-September) when park culture is at its peak and major events happen. April for 420 celebrations, June for Mary Jane Berlin.
Safety & Legal Awareness
Driving: Germany's THC driving limit is 3.5 ng/mL blood serum. This is relatively generous compared to other countries but still means you should wait several hours after consumption before driving. Police can conduct roadside saliva tests.
Drug testing at work: German employers can still test for cannabis in safety-sensitive positions. If you're visiting for business, be aware of potential workplace policies.
Mixing with alcohol: Berlin's nightlife is legendary, but mixing cannabis and alcohol increases impairment significantly. The city's club culture (Berghain, Tresor, etc.) is more associated with other substances — cannabis users tend toward the café and park scene.
Buying from strangers: Despite legalization, buying from unlicensed street dealers remains illegal. Görlitzer Park dealers are often selling low-quality or synthetic products. Avoid them.
Medical emergencies: If someone has a bad reaction, call 112 (EU emergency number). Germany has no penalty for seeking medical help related to drug use. Doctors are bound by confidentiality.
Police interactions: Berlin police are generally professional and not interested in hassling adults with legal amounts of cannabis. If stopped, remain calm and know your rights — you can possess up to 25g and they cannot search you without reasonable suspicion of a crime.
Documentation: Consider carrying a printout or screenshot of the Cannabis Act's key provisions in German, especially the possession limits. This can help resolve any confusion with authorities quickly.
Author
Nyke Perényi
Head of Marketing, Weed.de
Nyke Perényi is Head of Marketing at Weed.de, overseeing strategic positioning and the brand's online and offline marketing. She develops creative campaigns, builds partnerships, and strengthens presence across digital and traditional media. She has been dedicated to cannabis education and destigmatization for years. In her spare time, she's active on Instagram and YouTube and is the creator of the cannabis card game Green Deal.
Published January 20, 2025 · 11 min read
