How much may members receive each month?

Members aged 21 and over may receive at most 50 grams of cannabis per calendar month. Young adults aged between 18 and 21 may receive at most 30 grams (§ 19 para. 3 KCanG). In addition, a daily limit of 25 grams applies to both groups. Young adults may only receive cannabis with a THC content of at most 10 percent. The limits apply to the association, which may not pass on more, and to the members, who may not accept more. This article explains how the monthly limit is to be understood, how it is documented and what applies if it is exceeded.

The monthly limit for members aged 21 and over

For members aged 21 and over, passing on is limited to at most 50 grams per calendar month (§ 19 para. 3 sentence 1 KCanG). The reference point is the calendar month, not a period of 30 days from an arbitrary date. The limit attaches to the individual person, not to the association as a whole. It concerns the handover, not the possession at home, which is governed by § 3 KCanG.

The limit for young adults

Young adults are, under § 1 no. 20 KCanG, persons who have turned 18 but not yet 21. For them a monthly limit of 30 grams applies, which is 20 grams less than for members aged 21 and over. The THC content may not exceed 10 percent (§ 19 para. 3 sentences 2 and 3 KCanG). If an association repeatedly hands over cannabis with a higher THC content to young adults, or repeatedly exceeds these passing-on amounts, the authority may revoke the permit (§ 15 para. 1 no. 3 KCanG).

The daily limit

In addition to the monthly limit, a daily limit of 25 grams applies, for members aged 21 and over and for young adults (§ 19 para. 3 KCanG). It supplements the monthly limit and does not replace it. Example: if a member aged 21 or over receives 25 grams on the 3rd of a month, the daily limit has been reached for that day, and further handovers on the same day are not permitted. The monthly limit of 50 grams continues to apply alongside it. The member may therefore receive up to 25 grams again on the following day and will then have used up the monthly amount.

Documentation of the amounts

The association must document every handover continuously: name, first name and year of birth of the member, quantity in grams, average THC content and date (§ 26 para. 1 no. 5 KCanG). The records must be kept for five years and submitted electronically to the authority on request (§ 26 para. 2 KCanG). They are the basis for checking the monthly total for each member. Members may also note the amounts they have received to keep track. At every handover, the association checks age and membership using the membership card and an official photo identification (§ 19 para. 2 KCanG).

What applies if the limit is exceeded

Passing on more than the monthly limit is not permitted. The association may not hand the amount over, and members may not accept it. Consequences can include revocation of the permit (§ 15 para. 1 no. 3 KCanG) and, depending on the case, criminal liability (§ 34 para. 1 nos. 7 and 12 KCanG). Anyone who acquires or accepts more than 25 grams per day or more than 50 grams per calendar month may be liable to prosecution under § 34 para. 1 no. 12 KCanG. Authorities and courts assess each case. The article What happens if a club exceeds the amounts? covers this in more detail.

Upper limit and health

A limit in the law is an upper limit. It says nothing about which amount is compatible with health for a particular person. That depends on factors including health, age and life circumstances. For this reason, the association must inform at every handover about possible neurological and health damage from use under the age of 25, about interactions with medication and about mixed use, about limits on fitness to drive, and about counselling and treatment services (§ 21 para. 3 KCanG). A conversation with a counselling service helps to put your own use into perspective.

Checking your own use

• How much have I already received in this calendar month?
• How much do I use in a typical week?
• Are there days on which I use more than I had planned?

If you are unsure about any of these questions, contact an addiction counselling service. The German Head Office for Addiction Issues (DHS) lists services near you in its directory of addiction services. The association's prevention officer is also a contact for questions on addiction prevention (§ 23 para. 4 KCanG).

Storage at home

Cannabis and propagation material must be protected at the place of residence by suitable measures against access by third parties, in particular children and young people (§ 10 KCanG). Supplies should therefore not be left lying around in the open. Passing on cannabis to third parties is prohibited (§ 19 para. 4 sentence 1 KCanG). Anyone under financial or personal pressure and looking for help can find it at a counselling service.

Where to find the full text

You can find the wording of the rules on quantities at gesetze-im-internet.de, the official law portal. For questions about a specific case, a specialist lawyer can help assess the situation.