Big news! Since April 1st, Germany has taken an unexpected turn in its traffic laws. Now, adults over 18 can grow and possess cannabis for recreational use. But what about drivers? Can we light up a joint and get behind the wheel without any issues?
Well, it’s not that simple. Although cannabis has been legalized, driving under its influence remains a delicate matter. Until now, there wasn’t a clear THC limit (the active component in cannabis) in the blood for drivers, like there is for alcohol. Jurisprudence had set a value of 1.0 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood, but many consider this limit too low and not truly reflective of cannabis’s influence on driving.
Recently, a commission of experts recommended raising this limit to 3.5 nanograms per milliliter of blood, arguing that from this value, a relevant effect on road safety occurs. Now, this recommendation has become law, allowing drivers to have up to 3.5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood without facing penalties.
So, what does this mean for drivers in Germany? Basically, although you can legally have and consume cannabis, if you’re caught driving with more than 3.5 nanograms of THC in your blood, you could face fines, license suspension, or even imprisonment. So, it’s better to leave the car at home if you’ve been enjoying some green.
In summary, Germany has taken a step forward in the legalization of cannabis, but driving under its influence remains a dangerous area. If you decide to enjoy this new freedom, do so responsibly and avoid getting behind the wheel. Your safety and that of others come first!
From Cannabisground, we applaud this initiative by Germany and urge other countries to follow suit. It is currently surreal that people can drive with a permissible blood alcohol level while drivers are penalized for a small amount of THC.
Additionally, to make matters worse, many medicinal CBD users test positive, as legally CBD can contain up to 1% THC.
