Change of month - Pensions, cannabis, drink caps: what's changing for consumers in July
## Contents
- Changes in July: Cannabis-Clubs
- Blackbox for Cars
- More Money for Retirees and Retirees
- Lid on Drinks
- Breast Cancer Early Detection
- Riedbahn Rehabilitation
- Toll Road Obligation for Smaller Transporters
- Germany-wide in Summer Vacation
- Luxury Department Store in Berlin Closes
- Bundestag Salaries Increase
- Organ Donor Register Callable for Clinics
- Gas Storage Deposit
Smokers are looking forward to July, as cannabis cultivation in special clubs is permitted from this month. Retirees can also look forward to more money on their accounts - and what else changes in July:
Changes in July: Cannabis-Clubs
From July 1st, cannabis can be grown collectively and distributed to club members in special associations according to the Cannabis Law. Consumption in the cultivation associations, which are called clubs in the law, is not allowed. The clubs may have a maximum of 500 members and can only distribute cannabis in limited quantities to these members and not sell it.
Blackbox for Cars
From July 7th, newly registered cars in Germany must be equipped with a so-called Event Data Recorder. Like the black box in aircraft, data should be stored that can be read in the event of an accident for clarification purposes.
More Money for Retirees and Retirees
More than 21 million female retirees and retirees in Germany receive increased pensions from July 1st. For the first time, pensions in East and West will be at the same level. A pension of 1000 Euro increases by 45.70 Euro.
From July, around three million people will also receive a significant increase in their disability pension: For a pension starting date between January 2001 and June 2014, the increase is 7.5%. For a pension starting date between July 2014 and December 2018, the increase is 4.5%.
Lid on Drinks
To reduce waste in the landscape, loose caps are banned on certain beverages from July 3rd. This applies to disposable packaging made entirely or partially of plastic - such as juice cartons or disposable PET bottles - with a volume of up to three liters.
Breast Cancer Early Detection
The age limit for free breast cancer screening for statutory health insured persons is raised from 69 to 75 years. This regulation is to be implemented from July 1st.
Riedbahn Rehabilitation
The Deutsche Bahn begins the general rehabilitation of the Riedbahn on July 15th, which connects Frankfurt and Mannheim. The line will be closed until December 14th. Trains will be rerouted and there will be rail replacement transport.
Toll Road Obligation for Smaller Transporters
From July 1st, toll road obligation also applies to smaller transporters with more than 3.5 tons. Until now, it applies from 7.5 tons.
Germany-wide in Summer Vacation
From July 26th, when the Bavarian schoolgirls and schoolboys are the last to start their summer vacation, all schools in Germany are closed for a few days. On August 1st, the children and adolescents in Thuringia begin the school year 2024/25. Traditionally, there are many different vacation start dates in Germany, which the federal states coordinate with each other. In this year, there are seven different dates.
Luxury Department Store in Berlin Closes
The French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette will close its Berlin location for customers and customers on July 31st. It is the only branch in Germany.
## Bundestag allowances increasing
For the 734 parliamentarians in the Bundestag, there is more money: As of July 1st, allowances are increasing by 6%. The parliamentary allowance will then be 11,227.20 Euro per month.
Organ donor registry accessible to clinics
As of July 1st, it should be possible for clinics to search and retrieve data from the Organ Donor Register. Volunteers have been able to register declarations of their organ and tissue donation readiness via the online function of the identity card since March.
Gas storage inventory
The gas storage inventory, which makes up a part of the natural gas price, increases to 2.50 Euro per Megawatt-hour (0.025 Euro per Kilowatt-hour) as of July 1st. Previously, it was 1.86 Euro per Megawatt-hour. For a household with a yearly consumption of 20,000 Kilowatt-hours, this results in approximately 13 Euro in additional costs per year.
Disability pension for parliamentarians - EU Regulation on Plastics, Article 6 - Ministry of Transport on Event Data Recorder Information - Expansion of Breast Cancer Early Detection Law - Proposed Changes to the Cannabis Law - Health Ministry on Cannabis Gas storage inventory
- Despite the upcoming closure of the Galeries Lafayette in Berlin, stoners are excited about the new changes in July, as cannabis cultivation in special clubs is now permitted.
- In addition to the luxury department store closing, the debate on cannabis legalization continues in Berlin's headlines, with the new law enabling cannabis-clubs to grow and distribute cannabis to members.
- As a result of the changes in July, retirees in Germany can look forward to an increase in their pensions, while car owners will need to comply with the new requirement of installing a blackbox in all newly registered vehicles.
