festivals
Grass at the Oktoberfest? Cannabis rules open at the folk festival
Last year, the police counted more than 350 violations of the narcotics law at Oktoberfest. photo
© Felix Hörhager/dpa
Cannabis has been consumed at Oktoberfest for a long time – just illegally. It is still unclear whether and where you will be allowed to smoke weed at the Oktoberfest after the planned partial legalization.
Joint with beer? Shortly before the planned partial legalization of From April 1st onwards, questions will arise in Munich as to how consumption at the Oktoberfest should be regulated – whether and where you can smoke cannabis there.
The economic department as the organizer initially refrained from making any specific statements. “The effects of the law on events or catering will only be apparent in a few weeks or months,” said a spokesman. If a special regulation is necessary for the folk festival, this will be reflected in the Oktoberfest regulations. The district administration committee is responsible for relevant decisions.
The economics consultant and festival director Clemens Baumgärtner also expressed reservations. “We first have to take a close look at the law,” said the CSU politician to the “Bild” newspaper. However, he at least has a bad feeling when he imagines joints being passed around in the pub gardens at Oktoberfest.
People have also smoked weed at the folk festival before
The spokesmen for the Oktoberfest hosts, Peter Inselkammer and Christian Schottenhamel, pointed out that the decision on partial legalization was still very recent. “We are currently in the process of forming an opinion among our colleagues. We will discuss the topic at our next host meeting in mid-April.”
At this point in time there is no urgent need for action. “We will first take a look at how this will all work at the next larger open-air events such as Tollwood,” said Inselkammer and Schottenhamel.
Weed has also been smoked at the folk festival before – albeit illegally. Last year, the police counted more than 350 violations of the Narcotics Act during the festival. About half of them involved cannabis, the other half cocaine. In a minimal percentage, other narcotics were the trigger for criminal prosecution.