Overview

• Germany's new cannabis law, effective since April 2024, prohibits consumption in specific areas, including near minors and in pedestrian zones during the day.
• No nationwide regulations for cannabis use at Christmas markets have been implemented in states like Saxony, Lower Saxony, Bremen, and Thuringia.
• Local municipalities can decide on additional restrictions; for example, Torgau has declared its Christmas market a 'cannabis-free zone' until 2028.
• Major cities like Dresden, Leipzig, Chemnitz, Hanover, and Erfurt have opted not to impose additional bans, relying on existing legal provisions.
• Security measures such as police patrols, private security, and occasional checks will be in place at many markets, though no widespread cannabis-specific enforcement is planned.