Berlin is on course to at least semi-legalising marijuana after a cross-party movement agreed on a ground-breaking pilot scheme.

The capital’s Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party have agreed on a “controlled distribution of cannabis to adults” project.

Cannabis possession is illegal in Germany, although people found with less than 15g are often not prosecuted.

Various German newspapers cited Green politician Benedikt Lux, on the day of Donald Trump’s US-election victory, as saying “a scientifically accompanied pilot project for the controlled delivery of cannabis” was planned.

Berlin’s Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district has previously tried to legalise controlled cannabis dealing, but has been thwarted by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.

The city is one of 16 federal states in Germany with the authority to introduce its own laws.

In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-5.jpg A cultivator of marijuana smelling a plant at his house in Montevideo, Uruguay EPA In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-9.jpg Demonstrators participate during the so called 'Last march of the illegal marijuana' summoned by the groups that have long fought for the legalization of marijuana in the streets of Montevideo, Uruguay EPA In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-8.jpg A government-sponsored bill would be the world's first to allow its citizens to grow, buy and smoke marijuana AP In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-1.jpg Uruguay's Senate gave final congressional approval to create the world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana, an audacious experiment that will have the government oversee production, sales and consumption of a drug illegal almost everywhere else AP In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-2.jpg People attend a demonstration in support of the legalization of marijuana in Montevideo, Uruguay AP In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-3.jpg An activist smokes a marijuana cigarette in front of the Congress in Montevideo, Uruguay AP In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-4.jpg A demonstrator wears a top hat emblazoned with an image of a marijuana leaf as activists gathered in support of the legalization of marijuana outside the Congress building in Montevideo, Uruguay AP In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-6.jpg An experiment that seeks to confront drug trafficking was launched by 78-year-old Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, a former revolutionary leader. It would enable the production, distribution and sale of cannabis, self-cultivation and consumer clubs, all under state control Getty Images In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-7.jpg People celebrate as senators approve a government-run marijuana industry in Montevideo, Uruguay AP In pictures: Uruguay's Senate creates world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana Uruguay-10.jpg Uruguay's Senate debates a government-sponsored bill establishing state regulation of the cultivation, distribution and consumption of marijuana during a session in Montevideo Reuters

The move follows decriminalisation of cannabis in Nevada, California and Massachusetts, passed in votes on 8 November, that allows over-21s to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and to cultivate up to six plants for personal use.

Max Plenert of the German Hemp Association, as quoted by broadcaster Deutsche Welle, said: “The legal code is decided at the federal level, and this is about a local attempt to try to do things differently.

“This is a pilot project with limits. It’s an attempt to advance the discussion about how things could be different.

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“It won’t have a massive effect on the market for drugs as a whole. But as with other pilot projects concerning drugs, it’s a chance to show politicians and the press that the topic isn’t such a big deal. And that could kick-start larger changes.”