The German Parliament (Bundestag) will hold its first reading of the proposed law regarding (limited) cannabis legalization, where MP’s can debate and/or ask questions about the draft. This is a huge step, we’re now entering legislative endgame. We’re definitely on track for german stoners to legally smoke pot next year.

If you’re interested in what happens next, lemmy (hehehe) give you some overview, but tl;dr:

Bill is almost guaranteed to get passed, but might see some amendments depending on government coalition willingness.

!!!CAUTION: Boring legislative process details! Proceed at your own risk!

• After the first reading in plenary, the draft then goes to the relevant committees, which debate, discuss and then send their final report with a resolution recommendation back to plenary.
• In plenary, there will be a so-called second reading, where all MPs can table amendments.
  • If no amendments are accepted during the second reading in plenary, the third reading and final vote take place immediately
  • If amendments are accepted in the second reading, the third reading does not take place until two days later at the earliest. There, only the political parties (not individual MP’s) can propose further amendments, but only regarding the amendments adopted during the second reading. The final vote follows thereafter

Since the government coalition has a majority, it’s expected that the bill will be accepted. After parliament has accepted the finalized bill, it’s realistically unstoppable.

The bill then gets referred to the Bundesrat (something like the Upper House or Senate, where the federal states are represented). This institution can ask for further amendments, however, if the parliament (= government majority) does not voluntarily accept those, the bill will become a law (after two technicality votes of formal objection by this “Senate” and overruling by the parliament/government majority).