Legal weed in Germany: Berlin beer gardens prepare new spliff policy

On April 1 in Germany, it becomes legal to smoke weed in public, and visitors to Berlin's bars and beer gardens are likely to notice a change in aroma as smokers avail of their new right to spark up a spliff.

Overall, the rules for smoking marijuana are to be very similar to those for smoking cigarettes - in other words, quite relaxed.

Although it is technically forbidden by law to smoke inside most pubs in Berlin, there are exceptions for many so-called smoking pubs. In practice, many bars continue to allow smoking indoors. Smoking in outdoor areas is typically allowed.

Whether cannabis will spread on the benches in front of Prenzlauer Berg restaurants and Kreuzberg bars and in the beer gardens of Mitte is up to the respective guests and landlords.

A spokesman for Berlin's gastronomy association Dehoga said at least some bar owners were considering banning joints out of fear that people simply get stoned and buy fewer drinks.

"I of course won't be allowing that," the spokesman quoted one owner as saying. "I want to sell my beer." In nightlife hotspots like Friedrichshain, Neukölln and Kreuzberg, however, the policy is likely to be more relaxed.

And what about Berlin's famous nightclubs? A smoking ban also applies in clubs, but many operators nevertheless tolerate cigarettes, at least in certain spaces.

According to Dehoga, it remains to be seen whether this also applies to joints. Clubs may accept cigarettes, but ban cannabis or send users to an outdoor area.

It remains to be seen whether Berlin pubs, restaurants and clubs will develop special signs for their indoor and outdoor areas, and also how the atmosphere in bars will change at weekends with a mixture of intoxicated and stoned revellers.

In March, after decades of public debate and lengthy deliberations in parliament, Germany finally cleared the way for adults to be able to legally smoke weed on the street beginning on April 1.

The landmark legislation allows for adult possession of up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use in public. Three live cannabis plants will be legal in one's own home and up to 50 grams of cannabis for personal use there.

Smoking weed in public spaces is to be allowed, except near schools and sports facilities. The new law makes Germany the third European Union country to legalize cannabis for personal use, alongside Malta and Luxembourg.