Oktoberfest Without Cannabis: German Authorities Are Considering Introducing a Ban

Despite the recent legalization of cannabis for personal use, the German state of Bavaria is considering introducing restrictions on its use during the famous Oktoberfest.

The Bavarian government plans to create cannabis-free zones at public events such as Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest in Munich is the world’s largest beer festival, serving approximately 6 million liters of beer and presenting traditional Bavarian music and cuisine during the two-week festivities. The festival ends on the first Sunday of October.

However, even though Germany’s new cannabis legalization law came into effect on April 1, Bavaria is seeking to limit its consumption in public places in line with the new regulations. Although a decision has not yet been made at the last government meeting, according to Florian Herrmann, head of the Chancellery and Minister of State of Bavaria, the search for additional options to limit cannabis consumption is ongoing. A decision on this matter is expected to be made next week.

Markus Söder, Prime Minister of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), has clearly opposed the legalization of cannabis in Germany, stating that Bavaria will not become a “smokers’ paradise” and announced that cannabis laws will be applied strictly.

A week before officially legalizing cannabis for personal use, Bavaria published a catalog of penalties for its consumption in public places. Currently, local authorities have the power to impose fines for violations of the law, with maximum penalties of up to €1,000 for smoking cannabis in unauthorized public spaces or in the presence of children and young people, and up to €30,000 for activities related to the advertising and distribution of cannabis.

Moreover, in addition to Oktoberfest, restrictions on cannabis use may also apply to beer halls and outdoor areas of restaurants, as well as places such as Englischer Garten, one of the largest and most famous public parks in Germany.

Herrmann also promised to give local governments the ability to create cannabis-free zones, as Germany’s new cannabis law does not include specific provisions for public festivals such as Oktoberfest. However, many organizers emphasize the need to ban smoking cannabis near children and teenagers, especially considering that folk festivals are family events.

Both before and after the government meeting, critical voices appeared on social media, drawing attention to the hypocrisy associated with the ban on the use of cannabis at events where alcohol is widely consumed. Critics point out that state authorities allow mass alcohol consumption while imposing restrictions on cannabis use, despite its legalization for personal use.

Since the ruling coalition took power in late 2021 following elections, it has pledged to legalize cannabis for recreational use

That became a reality on April 1st, when cannabis was partially legalized, allowing personal use and the creation of cannabis social clubs, but prohibiting sales.

Despite the approval of the new legislation, it was met with criticism and opposition from many parties, especially several federal states. Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saarland voted to send the bill back to the compromise committee of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat for renegotiation.

The announcement of an assessment of the feasibility of restricting cannabis consumption at Oktoberfest therefore reflects a broader restrictive approach that is likely to be adopted by those federal states that have disagreed with the coalition government’s initiative to legalize cannabis for personal use. It also suggests that other federal states may adopt a similar restrictive approach to the use of cannabis in public spaces at various future events.

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(Featured image by motointermedia via Pixabay)

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