The German government agreed on Wednesday a framework for the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults, subject to compatibility with European law, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced, quoted by AFP.

The outline of the plan aims to bring the production and trade of cannabis under “public control” and allow the purchase and possession of “a maximum amount of 20-30 grams” for personal consumption, the minister told a news conference.

The government first wants to make sure it is compatible with European Union law, Lauterbach said, according to the Associated Press.

According to Lauterbach, the plan involves the sale of adult cannabis in licensed outlets and is aimed at combating the black market. He added that the government intends to carefully regulate the market.

The legalization of the controlled sale of cannabis is part of a series of reforms outlined in a coalition agreement reached last year between the three social liberal parties that make up Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government.

They said the plan would ensure quality control while protecting young people and agreed that the “social implications” of the new legislation would be reviewed in four years.

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