Cannabis and more What regulations are changing as of March 1
Berlin · Consumers can expect many changes as of March 1. Not only a law for cannabis on prescription comes into effect, but there are many other changes that directly affect us.
March is the month for new regulations and laws. Here are the most important ones affecting consumers:
1) Cannabis available by prescription:
Patients who are seriously ill and suffer from pain can now receive cannabis medicines on prescription. The costs are to be covered by health insurance companies. Before receiving a prescription for marijuana however, the federal government dictates that other therapeutic possibilities must be exhausted. In individual cases, the treating physician can decide. In addition, cannabis should only be prescribed if the symptoms or the course of the disease are improved as a result. The cultivation of cannabis and its use as a drug remains prohibited.
2) Changeover to DVB-T2:
According to the Consumer Center Brandenburg, there are currently four possibilities for television reception: antenna, cable, satellite and internet. As of March 29, TV broadcasters will switch to terrestrial broadcasting on the new standard DVB-T2 in metropolitan areas. This affects all consumers who receive their TV program digitally terrestrially via DVB-T, i.e. via a room or roof antenna. In the future, they will need a new receiver if it is not integrated in the TV set. Without new receivers, affected persons will no longer be able to receive programming.
3) Improved copyright laws:
The federal government says authors and artists will be better able to enforce their right to reasonable compensation. Although this right was anchored in law in 2002, self-employed artists often failed to take advantage of it.
4) Smoking and fire are prohibited in forests:
Another new feature is the ban on smoking in forests, which will apply from the beginning of March. In addition, campfires or grilling are prohibited in and around the forest. Due to the high risk of forest fires, which is often prevalent also in spring, the regulation is to be valid until 31 October. In order to avoid forest fires, no cars, motorcycles or commercial vehicles of farmers can be parked on meadows and forest paths, since their hot-running catalysts can ignite fire. In addition, garbage should not be left behind in the forest: a glass bottle, foil, lighter and cans with chemical waste can become a fire hazard.
5) PO boxes will cost you:
Anyone who receives mail in one of the 818,000 PO boxes of Deutsche Post will have to pay a yearly fee. As of March 1, it will cost customers 19.90 euros per year for the use of such a mailbox. Until now, customers had to pay only 15 euros for the installation.
6) New moped license plates:
The German Insurance Association (GDV) has indicated that as of March 1, only the new black license plates are valid. The old green ones are no longer valid. Whoever is traveling with the old license plates no longer has the proper insurance protection and this is punishable by law. The color of the license plate changes annually between black, blue and green. They are available from car insurers. They are required for small vehicles such as mopeds, which do not have more than 50 cubic centimeters and do not drive faster than 45 km / h. But it also applies, for example to electric bicycles, which go at speeds above 25 km / h, according to the GDV.
(Orig. text: dpa, ga)
