The government of Germany has plans to legalize cannabis for adults.
People will be allowed to have a maximum 30g of cannabis for recreation. Special shops and pharmacies will sell the drug.
The plan is not fully approved yet. The European Union will also have to give the green light. The plan might become a law in 2024.
In the EU (European Union), the only other country with legalized cannabis for recreation is Malta. The Netherlands is famous for cannabis, but it’s not actually legal.
With the new plan, people will also be allowed to grow cannabis plants at home. Each adult can have three plants. However, advertising cannabis or sending it in the mail will be illegal.
Karl Lauterbach, the health minister of Germany, says that more people are using illegal cannabis and the government couldn’t stop it. So, the new plan is to control it.
Also, the government will collect a sales tax (VAT) and an additional “cannabis tax” when people buy cannabis.
VOCABULARY
- Legalize – to allow something by law; to make legal; to make a new law that lets people do something; to make something OK
- Cannabis – a plant that is often smoked to relax, get high or reduce pain
- Allow – permit; let; to give permission; OK
- Recreation – activity done for enjoyment; something done for pleasure or to relax; entertainment; pleasure
- Pharmacy – a store where medicines are prepared and sold; a shop in which you buy medicine
- Approve – officially agree; accept; to say “yes”; authorize
- The European Union – 27 countries in Europe that work closely together
- Give the green light – to approve; to say “yes” to; to agree to; to allow
- Advertise – to promote; to market; to push; to make people aware; to show publicly
- Illegal – not allowed by law; forbidden by official rules; unlawful; criminal
- Minister – A government person who is responsible for the health of people in the country
- Sales tax – money that is paid to the government when you buy something
- Tax – money that a government requires people or businesses to pay
Original story from BBC below:
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