SusanneSchulz
A bill to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in Germany is set to take effect next month as scheduled after the country's upper house of parliament cleared its implementation without a delay.
The lawmakers representing a regional-level legislative body known as the Bundesrat failed to reach a majority on Friday to refer the legislation to a mediation committee, which would have postponed its implementation by six months.
Ahead of the vote, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach put forward a "protocol declaration" to the Bundesrat addressing lawmakers' concerns and, hence, avoiding an implementation delay.
"The fight was worth it, legalization of cannabis is coming on Easter Monday!" Lauterbach, who led government efforts on legalization, remarked after the body, also known as the Federal Council, didn't refer the bill to the mediation committee.
"Please use the new opportunity responsibly and help protect children and young people. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the black market today," he added.
In late February, the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, voted 407 to 226 to pass the bill introduced by Germany's governing parties, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).
The legislation set to take effect on April 1 partially legalizes marijuana use in the country, allowing Germans to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis in public spaces and 50 grams in private homes, among its other measures.