Bavarian Government Discusses New Measures on Marijuana Consumption

According to reports from German media, the Bavarian government is currently discussing new measures regarding the consumption of marijuana, but no specific decisions were made at Tuesday's cabinet meeting. The Chief Secretary of the state government, Florian Herrmann, stated after the meeting that all proposals are still under careful review.

"The goal is to make consumption less attractive," he emphasized. The Bavarian government also plans to "adjust" existing systems to compensate for the shortcomings in federal law regarding the protection of minors. Departments are considering further measures to restrict marijuana, which may be decided upon at the next opportunity, perhaps as soon as next week.

According to available information, Bavaria's new marijuana law will impose high fines on violators, such as a fine of 1000 euros for using marijuana in front of children or teenagers. This detailed fine schedule was developed by the Bavarian State Department of Health and will go into effect on April 1st.

Herman proposed a specific plan that would allow cities to establish marijuana-free zones, similar to the current mechanism for setting up alcohol-free zones. "This will provide a solution for dealing with issues such as ethnic holidays or the Munich Oktoberfest, which is also anticipated by the industry," he added.

In fact, current marijuana laws do not have specific regulations regarding national holidays, but many event organizers have followed the provisions by prohibiting the use of marijuana near children and adolescents, as these holidays are usually family-oriented activities.

In Munich's English Garden and Bayreuth's Court Garden, the government is considering changing park regulations to officially prohibit the use of marijuana in these areas.

The government also plans to expand the scope of the smoking ban, including the use of e-cigarettes and similar devices for the consumption of marijuana and tobacco products, and intends to completely ban the consumption of marijuana products in designated smoking rooms.

Another place considered a marijuana-free zone is the outdoor area of beer gardens and restaurants. Since it is impossible to ensure that minors will not appear in these places, even if the use of marijuana is technically prohibited. Now, there is discussion on whether this should be written into the health protection law.

People are discussing whether to explicitly set regulations in the civil service law prohibiting the use of marijuana products during their service, and requiring them to ensure they are not under the influence of marijuana while on duty.

In Bavaria, authorities have established guidelines in the health department's fine catalog for violations of marijuana laws, with fines reaching up to 1000 euros. Individuals caught using marijuana in pedestrian zones, schools, and their immediate vicinity between 7am and 8pm, or in the vicinity of children's playgrounds, will face fines of 500 euros.

The same regulations also apply to children and youth facilities, as well as public sports stadiums. The "line of sight area" refers to a range of up to 100 meters from the entrance of the facility. In military areas designated by the Federal Ministry of Defense, individuals caught using marijuana will face a fine of 300 euros. Those found in possession of or carrying more than the legal limit of marijuana will be fined between 500 and 1000 euros.

In the event of illegal advertisements or sponsorships, improper storage of cannabis, or other violations, fines of up to several hundred euros may be imposed on the future potential creation of cannabis cultivation cooperatives. For certain violations, fines could even reach up to 30,000 euros, such as illegal mailing or delivery of cannabis seedlings.

According to the fine schedule, all of the above amounts are set for "intentional first-time violations." If there is a second violation, the fine may double, and if it is due to negligence, the fine may be halved. However, the administrative department can also adjust fines based on specific circumstances.