Some two months after Germany partially legalized the recreational use of cannabis, parliament has voted to amend the much anticipated law to introduce new restrictions for driving.
The amendments, passed late on Thursday, also include additional provisions for the cultivation of cannabis in so-called cannabis clubs to prevent the emergence of large-scale plantations.
Following years of debate, Berlin passed new cannabis legislation in February, allowing German adults to legally possess, purchase or cultivate marijuana, although strict regulations and limits still apply.
Under the law, in force since April 1, adults are allowed to carry up to 25 grams of marijuana, while no more than 50 grams can be stored at home. Up to three plants can be cultivated at home.
Public consumption of marijuana remains prohibited in the vicinity of children, schools, day-care centres, playgrounds and sports grounds, among other places.
Besides home cultivation, adults can also join so-called cannabis clubs, where members will be allowed to grow the drug together and supply it to each other from July 1.
The law was pushed through parliament by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition government.
Opposition conservatives from the CDU/CSU bloc, however, continue to call for Germany to reverse course and again outlaw marijuana in the country.
With the new amendments, parliament introduced a limit of 3.5 nanograms per millilitre of blood of the active ingredient in cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for drivers.
So far, there had been no clear-cut rules on driving under the influence of cannabis, with fines often imposed once any THC was detected in the blood.
However, experts had long called for the threshold to be increased, arguing that it led to too many being sanctioned without a real threat to road safety.
Due to the risks of mixing alcohol and marijuana, however, those who have consumed cannabis are now completely banned from driving under the influence of alcohol once they have reached the new 3.5-nanograms limit.
In Germany, the limit for driving after consuming alcohol is 0.05% of blood alcohol content.
According to the new rules, new drivers are banned from driving under the influence of cannabis.
In addition, Germany's federal states have been granted more leeway in implementing the law, for example when inspecting the cannabis clubs.