Europe’s cannabis policy landscape is set for substantial changes as the EU’s largest economy, Germany, recently adopted the most liberal policy on the continent. Lawmakers in the Bundesrat (Upper House) voted last week to make up to 25 grams legal for personal use, starting April 1. Luxembourg and Malta legalized recreational cannabis in 2023 and 2021, respectively.

Countries with an historically liberal slant towards cannabis have sought to rein these markets in. The Netherlands has begun cracking down on cannabis after the electorate has soured on years of cannabis tourism. Dutch cannabis markets thrived under tolerance rather than any major policy changes.

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