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00:00 Cannabis is no longer illegal in Germany.
00:02 Long awaited news for the country's 4.5 million consumers.
00:06 German residents over 18 can now possess up to 25 grams in public and grow up to 3 plants
00:12 per household.
00:14 The health minister says the policy aims to curb the black market, which is estimated
00:18 to generate 4 billion euros per year and 400 tonnes of cannabis.
00:22 "The black market is getting bigger and bigger.
00:25 The number of drug-related deaths has doubled in the last 10 years.
00:29 It couldn't go on like this.
00:31 I was against cannabis legalisation for years myself, but the studies show that we need
00:36 a new offer here."
00:37 Germany initially planned to legalise the sale of cannabis, but shifted to decriminalisation
00:42 of personal use as not to breach European laws, which means a massive untapped economic
00:47 potential from state revenue.
00:49 "Personally, I think we could have gone a lot further, but it's clear that I'm first
00:54 and foremost satisfied with what we've achieved.
00:58 It means an end to the criminalisation of several million people in Germany who have
01:02 been senselessly discriminated against for decades."
01:05 A 2021 study estimated legalisation could generate $5.3 billion in taxes and create
01:11 27,000 jobs.
01:14 Germany plans to run a pilot program where it will test the legalisation of cannabis
01:17 sales in some cities, assessing public health impacts, which could be used to influence