Cannabis may now be legal, but you still can't buy it legally. The only way to obtain cannabis officially (not from street vendors) is through a pharmacy, but you need a prescription for that. And even though a lot has changed with decriminalization in Germany, one thing remains the same: getting a prescription for medical weed isn't all that easy, especially for recreational users who smoke weed more or less for fun. But the federal government has left us and you a way to still get great weed: the Home cultivation of cannabis. He, in turn, comes with a lot of questions, especially about what's allowed and what's not, because you're not allowed to grow anything without restrictions. So, unfortunately, you're not allowed to rent an allotment and then envelop the entire neighborhood in a fragrant cloud from there. HIZEN explains today what's allowed – and what's not!
Yay, it’s allowed!
First of all, we want to celebrate with you in a fitting way the fact that cannabis and cannabis plants are now legal. So, get your Vaporizer Out of our pockets and let's raise a glass! To our newfound freedom and the fact that we no longer have to talk about broccoli and oregano, but can now take the bull by the horns: We love cannabis, and that's okay. To avoid any misunderstandings, we'll briefly go over the rules of permitted consumption with you:
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So always be careful where you stick your bag. But now let's talk about growing your own cannabis.
This is how you can grow your own cannabis…
So that you always grow your own cannabis within the clear rules of the legalization and cannot be prosecuted, you should adhere to the regulations. Here, in CanG Clearly defined upper limits have been set, and we're introducing them! Roughly speaking, this can be divided into two different topics: cultivation and ownership. Wait, what's the difference? If I cultivate, I own anyway, so what now? Well, yes, for now. But there are separate limits for both areas, and both must be observed.
Growing
When growing your own cannabis, the rule is: no more than 3 plants per adult per household. And this is where many people get a bit confused. What now – 3 plants per person or household? Both. Each adult in a household is allowed to own up to 3 cannabis plants of their own. So if, for example, you have a partner who also wants to grow, you can have a total of 6 cannabis plants in your household. But be careful: sharing is prohibited. Growing your own cannabis is strictly limited to personal consumption; you can plant in the same household, but everyone has to get high on their own stuff. Strictly speaking, the same applies to friends, of course. So if someone wants to scrounge again, you can now simply say: Sorry, it's forbidden, the federal government says I can't give anything away.
Additionally, when growing your own cannabis, you must ensure that you:
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take sufficient protective measures if children live in the same household.
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Grow your plants in such a way that there is no access to your growing area, even outdoors. A garden, for example, must be lockable.
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no one with your Growing bother you.
This last point probably makes some inexperienced observers wonder how such a beautiful creature could ever have bothered anyone. But the fact is: cannabis stinks. To many, it's the scent of God, but for non-enthusiasts, the pungent smell is sometimes as pleasant as a cesspool.
So, if you start growing your own cannabis on your balcony and Mrs. Miller next door has a problem during the flowering phase, that's not her problem, it's yours. In many cases, growing your own cannabis indoors is recommended, with a powerful ventilation system.
possession
The basic rules for growing your own cannabis have now been clarified. Now let's move on to possession. With three pretty ladies, you can harvest quite a respectable amount of weed. Unfortunately, the federal government has also come in here and said: You are not allowed to keep more than 3 grams. That may sound like a lot, but when you consider how much you end up with from a well-grown, nurtured, cared for, and loved plant: Outdoors, you can harvest up to 50 grams from one plant; indoors, it's about 500 g/m². These are average values, but they illustrate how small the maximum permitted amount of 400 grams of dried flowers is that you are actually allowed to keep from your home-grown cannabis. And even as an inexperienced grower who has learned the basics in a few hours from blogs and forums, it is easily possible to get over 50 grams in a single grow with three ladies.
… and not like that
You're almost tempted to give the rest to needy friends – but wait: that was also forbidden. So, anything you harvest above the permitted 50 grams must be destroyed. This is probably the saddest moment in growing your own cannabis, topped only by the untimely death of one of your charges. Incidentally, these rules also apply to all cannabis patients who want to grow their own stuff by growing cannabis at home. No special rules for anyone!
By the way: You are allowed to store up to 50 grams of cannabis for personal use at home. However, you are only allowed to carry a maximum of 25 grams in public!
What happens if you disregard the rules for growing your own cannabis
Those who are cheeky must expect consequences, and even if it initially appears to be a minor violation of inconsistent guidelines, breaking the rules when cultivating your own cannabis can result in painful penalties. Unfortunately, the law is very vague on this point, and the general tone is: Depending on the circumstances, income, the severity of the offense, and the (possible) profits made, the penalties can range from small to large fines to 15 years in prison. Is it worth it?
A decisive yes and no for cannabis cultivation laws
The reason there are so many gray areas here is probably that there is no empirical evidence yet. At least within Germany, there are no precedents to rely on if you want a more precise answer to some questions. For example:
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There are four of us living in a shared apartment and each of us has three plants. Does this still count as home cultivation of cannabis or is it already commercial?
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My harvest was really good and when I dried it I found that I had more than 50 grams of dried flowers left over. At the moment when I didn't know that yet – was it already a crime?
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Only the pure flowers count, assuming the 50 grams. What about the rest of the plant, which also contains THC (albeit in smaller amounts)? Can I have 1 kg of dried plant residue at home?
What is also not further defined is how to handle cuttings. Are they already plants? They don't even have roots yet, and THC hasn't been formed yet. All of these questions demonstrate that there is simply a lack of experience in dealing with this issue. Only time will tell how this will be handled, whether there will be amendments to the Cannabis Act, and how the legalization of cannabis and home cultivation in Germany will affect society and individuals.
This is what's next for cannabis plants, personal use and harvest quantities
Honestly, that was clickbait in literary form, because we don't know either. Nobody really knows. But there are various possible predictions that could be more or less likely to come true. For one thing, a model is already being planned that could allow the commercial distribution of cannabis – similar to alcohol and tobacco. This makes sense insofar as there will then be some kind of quality control, at least to a certain extent. Because: As things are now, many people continue to shy away from Home cultivation of cannabis to operate – but have no other way of getting weed other than the black market.
Possession limits and cultivation regulations can also change if they are determined to be impractical or feasible. Growers are already noticing that some things don't quite add up here – we're pointing out that a single cannabis plant can weigh several hundred grams of dried flowers. All we know is how things are currently being handled. Anything else? We're waiting for that just as eagerly as you are.
If you want to implement your own cultivation professionally and in a space-saving way, take a look at our CannaBonsai Grow Kit and the HEAT Growbox on – perfect for controlled, clean and efficient indoor growing.
