Moment German parliament votes to liberalise recreational marijuana

German lawmakers voted for a government plan to liberalise rules on cannabis, paving the way for the country to decriminalise limited amounts of marijuana and allow members of “cannabis clubs” to buy it for recreational purposes. On Friday 23 February, Bundestag (Parliament’s lower house) backed the legislation, a prominent reform project of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s socially liberal governing coalition, by 407 votes to 226, with only four abstentions. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach explained that the government’s aim is to “fight the black market” and better protect young people. Watch more on Independent TV: Click here to subscribe to The Independent: About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: