Driving With a Limited THC Level Now Allowed in Germany

Germany now allows driving with a THC level of up to 3.5 ng/ml in the wake of its partial cannabis legalization, but strict penalties apply for exceeding this limit, including a 500 euro fine and a potential driving ban. Zero tolerance for cannabis use while driving remains in place for drivers under 21 or those with a license for less than two years. Detection will be via saliva or blood tests.

Germany has set new limits for THC levels and driving, with the established limit being “higher than what the courts had previously set” and “low enough to ensure that a driver no longer feels the effects of the drug when getting behind the wheel,” according to experts cited by the European Consumer Center.

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THC Limits Established for Driving in Germany

Since Thursday, August 22, consuming cannabis before driving is permitted and “strictly limited” in Germany, provided the driver does not exceed a THC level of 3.5 nanograms per milliliter of blood (3.5 ng/ml), reports the European Consumer Center. This legal threshold, passed by the Bundestag in June, is “higher than what the courts had previously set (1 ng/ml of blood)” but “low enough to ensure that a driver no longer feels the effects of the drug when getting behind the wheel,” the ECC clarifies.

This measure aligns with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s policy of partially legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes. Since April 1, purchasing or growing cannabis for personal enjoyment has been allowed.

However, possession and consumption of the drug remain strictly prohibited for those under 18. With this new law, which sparked heated debates across Germany, the country follows in the footsteps of Malta and Luxembourg, which legalized recreational cannabis in 2021 and 2023, respectively. However, “only adults who have been residents of Germany for more than six months are permitted to grow, consume, and possess cannabis in limited quantities,” the ECC notes.

Severe Penalties

Experts, still cited in the press release from the Franco-German organization, stress that “drivers [will need to] wait several hours” before driving. “Immediately after consuming cannabis, the THC level per milliliter of blood can vary from 10 to 150 ng/ml. This concentration drops within a few hours for occasional users but can remain elevated for longer periods for ‘regular users,'” adds the ECC.

Anyone driving while exceeding the new legal threshold will logically face “severe penalties,” including a fine of 500 euros, which may be accompanied by a one-month driving ban. If the individual is also under the influence of alcohol, the fine doubles. These penalties apply to all drivers “regardless of their nationality or place of residence.”

Zero Tolerance for Drivers Under 21

Zero tolerance remains in effect for young drivers, the European Consumer Center continues. “Those under 21 years old, and those who have had their license for less than two years, are strictly prohibited from driving after consuming cannabis” and risk a fine of 250 euros if they do. “Police officers are authorized to conduct saliva tests to detect traces of THC” and may “order a blood test if there is doubt” about the driver’s condition.

Elsewhere in Europe, driving after consuming cannabis is allowed in the Netherlands (3 ng/ml of blood), Belgium, Ireland, and Denmark (1 ng/ml of blood). In France, “it is prohibited to drive” after consuming drugs.

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First published in Le Figaro, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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