<P> In February 2008, seven German patients were legally being treated with medicinal cannabis, distributed by prescription in pharmacies . </P> <P> On May 4, 2016 the Cabinet of Germany approved legislation allowing the use of cannabis for seriously ill patients who have consulted with a doctor and "have no therapeutic alternative". German Health Minister, Hermann Gröhe, presented the legal draft on the legalization of medical cannabis to the cabinet which took effect on March 10, 2017 . Licenses will be given by "Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices" to companies for growing medical cannabis . As of March 2017, the seriously ill can obtain cannabis with a doctor's prescription, paid for by health insurance . </P> <P> The German narcotics law (Betäubungsmittelgesetz) states that authorities are not required to prosecute for the possession of a "minor amount" of any narcotic drug meant for personal consumption, except in cases "of public interest", i.e. consumption in public, in front of minors or within a public school or a state prison . </P> <P> Under German law, the consumption itself of narcotics is not illegal: legally speaking, it is considered as non-punishable self harm . Legal commentaries recognise that it is possible to consume drugs without having bought them first, in a legal sense . This has the practical effect that a positive drug test does not necessarily mean that one has illegally purchased them . </P>

Is it illegal to smoke weed in germany
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