German cannabis club hands out weed for first time under new law

For what is believed to be the first time in Germany, a newly legalized cannabis club in the country's north-west distributed portions of the drug to its members on Saturday.

The first person to legally pick up a few grams of different varieties of cannabis at the club in the small town of Ganderkesee, near Bremen, was Michael Jaskulewicz, who described the experience as "an absolutely awesome feeling."

Members who have pre-paid can each collect up to 25 grams of marijuana.

"Every gram we distribute now is a gram not bought on the black market," said a spokeswoman for the club.

Since July 1, marijuana enthusiasts have been legally allowed to establish private clubs with up to 500 members to grow cannabis, distribute it among their members and consume it together.

The club in Ganderkesee says it is the first club in Germany to carry out a legal cannabis harvest.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Drug Commissioner said that no other club is known to have started harvesting earlier. But she pointed out that the authority does not gather any official information about the situation at the individual clubs.

Germany loosened rules on personal cannabis consumption in a law passed early this year.

Since April 1, in the first change to go into effect, adults have been allowed to carry up to 25 grams of marijuana, while no more than 50 grams can be stored at home. Up to three plants can be cultivated at home.

The aim of the changes is to combat the black market and reduce health risks. The active ingredient content of cannabis purchased from dealers is unknown and toxic additives and impurities could be present.

Ganderkesee chair Daniel Keune said the club's members came "from the heart of society," with the age range extending from 18 to 70 years.

Employees and entrepreneurs alike were among the cannabis enthusiasts, Keune said.

Partial legalisation of cannabis helps to protect consumers' health because the association guarantees that the cannabis provided is safe and free from additives, the chairman said.

Club member Jaskulewicz said he was able to pick up the very first grams of the drug grown at the club because he was one of the association's very first supporters.

He used to smoke cannabis back in the 1990s but had given up the habit after purchasing contaminated marijuana from a street dealer, he said.

"After that, I felt very dirty and thought I wouldn't do it again," Jaskulewicz added.