People in Germany allowed to smoke cannabis before driving, opposition censures move: Report

People in Germany will be allowed to smoke cannabis before driving under a new law, The Times reported on Friday (June 8). The report said that motoristswill not only be able to drive as fast as they like in certain places, but will be able to get behind the wheel, legally, after a few puffs on a joint.

TheBundestag (Germany's federal parliament) had partially legalised the consumption and cultivation of the drug from April 1. And now, the Bundestagbacked an amendment to the law that allows road users to consume limited amounts of cannabis.

A look at the law

The law has set a limit of 3.5 nanograms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active intoxicant in cannabis, per millilitre of blood. Those exceeding this limit while driving would pay a fine of $540 (€500) and would also be banned from driving for a month.

The law also bans driversfrom drinking any alcohol if they have taken cannabis and imposes a higher fine of around $1,080for road users caught having consumed both.

The Times report added that novice drivers- those aged under 21or who have held their driving licence for less than two years- are banned from consuming any cannabis at all.

'A black day for transport safety'

The oppositionCDU called the government's measure a “black day for transport safety" in Germany.

It also dismissed the government's argumentthat there should be equal treatment of alcoholand cannabis consumers on the roads.

Florian Müller, an MP and traffic policy spokespersonfor the CDU, said, "The government’s limit sends a disastrous signal. The comparison with alcohol is particularly dangerous because the effects and the breakdown in the body are completely different."

(With inputs from agencies)