Officials in Luxembourg have approved a bill legalising the cultivation and personal use of cannabis at home. Here’s what you need to know.
On Wednesday 28 June, the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg voted to legalise personal possession and home cultivation of up to four cannabis plants per household.
The bill first entered parliament over a year ago and was finally approved with 38 votes in favour and 22 against.
Residents can now grow up to four plants at home, providing they are not visible from any public roads.
Plants must be grown exclusively from seeds labelled with producer information and health warnings.
However, according to the Ministry of Justice ‘seeds for domestic cultivation’ are not yet available in Luxembourg and will have to be purchased online or from abroad. It notes that these will be subject to checks regarding the legality of the seeds in the country concerned.
The bill also decriminalises the public possession of small quantities of cannabis.
Personal consumption will be permitted in private, but not in the presence of minors or in public places.
Adults found with up to 3g of cannabis for personal use will face reduced fines, ranging from €25 to €500. However, larger quantities may still carry higher fines and potential prison sentences.
The law is expected to be published in the Official Gazette by the end of this week or early next, and is part of a two-stage approach to cannabis reform in Luxembourg.
The next phase will see the development of a state-controlled cannabis supply chain, with points of sale also planned for the long term.
Some reports have suggested that the pilot would see a maximum purchase limit of 5g of cannabis per day and 30g per month, with findings monitored by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to evaluate the impact on public health.
Justice Minister Sam Tanson (Déi Gréng) told the Chamber of Deputies: “The drug policy that we have been pursuing for 50 years has been a failure.”
The country’s health ministry first revealed that it was looking to begin the process of legalising recreational cannabis in 2019.
It follows Malta, which made history in 2021 as the first EU country to end the prohibition of cannabis for personal consumption. Germany is expected to adopt a similar approach, with a bill due to be submitted to parliament this summer.
