In accordance with the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), which came into force in Germany on July 1, 2024, a cultivation association has been granted a permit for the communal cultivation of cannabis. The Green Leaf Society e.V. submitted a corresponding application to the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district office on July 25.
After a thorough examination of the documents submitted, they meet the approval criteria set out in the law. The law places particular emphasis on the protection of minors, safety, non-commercial structures and information on health and addiction risks for club members.
"The application, which is based on the application documents of the Free State of Saxony, addresses these points in an extensive, structured and comprehensive manner. The health and youth protection concept alone comprises approx. 40 pages. The permit application is characterized by careful preparation, well thought-out concepts and almost complete documentation, which made it much easier to obtain a decision."
The Marzahn-Hellersdorf district office has so far only received this application from the district. Until there is a binding regulation at state level, the districts are still only responsible for applications from their own districts. Accordingly, the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district office has fulfilled its administrative mandate.
Gordon Lemm (SPD), the city councillor responsible for health, commented as follows: "The approval of the application is genuine administrative action. A decision was made here in accordance with the legal situation, as is often the case every day in all areas of our district office. Nevertheless, it is important for me to emphasize that the granting of the permit does not trivialize cannabis. Cannabis use still poses a health risk and cannabis should be considered a (legal) drug. Cannabis can demonstrably lead to structural changes and negative effects in the development of brain structures, particularly in children and adolescents, which is why they are prohibited from using it. A responsible approach to cannabis use by adults, especially in public, is therefore particularly important. For this reason, the legislator has set high hurdles for the legal cultivation and consumption of cannabis for adults. However, the motion before us is characterized by a high sense of responsibility and serious structural considerations, which have made it much easier for us to decide. For example, there are separate considerations for addressing problematic users and corresponding early detection systems. The Green Leaf Society's application can certainly be considered exemplary in many respects. I am sure that other potential growers' associations can and will learn from it. I fundamentally hope that our society will deal responsibly with cannabis, that our young people will be protected and that criminal structures surrounding the subject will be reduced. Every consumer can make a contribution to this."
Source (in German): www.berlin.de