Berlin To Legalise Puff 'Within Weeks'

Berlin city authorities are set to decriminalise personal possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana imminently, top local newspaper The Berliner Zeitung reported this week, in response to the massive popularity of cannabis in the German capital.

"There is hardly a club or disco, a cafe or gallery opening where with-it Berliners are not smoking joints," the newspaper suggested.

"And that is just the public aspect of the drug which is clearly obvious to all. Pot consumption at private parties is ubiquitous."

The change is likely to alarm the body responsible for maintaining the global ban on drugs, the United Nation's International Narcotics Control Board, who recently criticised Switzerland for taking broadly similar steps.

Explaining Switzerland's decision to decriminalise, Thomas Zeltner, the director of the Federal Health Office, was similarly realistic, telling local radio station Swiissinfo last month 'each country has to find its own policy, and that will be different in different countries.'

"We think it is better to permit the use and sale of these products in a controlled manner," Mr Zeltner added.

"But [they are meant] for adults only and not for foreigners - we don't want to offend neighbouring countries."
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