The German parliament voted on Friday to legalise the possession and controlled cultivation of cannabis starting in April, despite fierce objections from the opposition and medical associations.

Under the new law, it will be possible to obtain up to 25 grammes of the drug per day for personal use through regulated cannabis cultivation associations, as well as to have up to three plants at home.

But possession and use of the drug will remain prohibited for anyone under 18.

The changes will leave Germany with some of the most liberal cannabis laws in Europe, bringing it into line with Malta and Luxembourg, which legalised recreational use of the drug in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

The Netherlands has also long been known for its liberal cannabis laws, but in recent years parts of the country have begun cracking down on sales to tourists and non-residents.

Ahead of the vote, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called on members of parliament to back the controversial law, arguing that "the situation we are in now is in no way acceptable."

Germany has seen a sharp rise in the number of young people using cannabis obtained on the black market, said Lauterbach, a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats.

According to the German Cannabis Association, substances that can end up in black-market weed include sand, hairspray, talcum powder, spices or even glass and lead.

Experts also say marijuana can be contaminated with heroin or synthetic cannabinoids that are up to 100 times stronger than natural psychoactive cannabinoids. (AFP)