Germany One Step Away from Legalization
Germany continues to move closer to legalizing cannabis.
Last week, the country’s Ministry of Health unveiled a bill detailing new regulations for the personal use and cultivation of cannabis.
The release of the bill, the Ministry of Health explained, is part of a “two-pillar model” to “legalize private cultivation by adults for personal consumption, as well as community and non-commercial cultivation of cannabis in associations of cultivation”.
According to Forbes, the bill states that “adults 18 and older will be able to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and grow up to three plants in their private residence.”
“However, cannabis use in the ‘immediate vicinity’ of individuals under the age of 18, within a 200m radius of schools, children’s and youth facilities, playing fields, publicly accessible sports facilities and pedestrian zones between the 7: 00 and 20:00, remain prohibited. It is important to note that fines and criminal charges will continue to be imposed for specific illegal activities.”
Additionally, the outlet noted that “the proposed legislation allows an association to accept up to 500 members“, with each “member belonging to the association eligible to receive a maximum of 25 grams per day and 50 grams per month for personal use.” “.
German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said EU law “puts limits on us which we have to respect, but which we are trying to loosen”, as quoted by the AP at the time.
“Lauterbach had always warned that the government would proceed with its original plan only if it gets the green light from the EU,” according to the AP. “Although Germany has allowed some patients to get cannabis as a prescription drug as early as 2017.”
In a primer published on its website, the German Ministry of Health explained what will happen in the near future on the path of the bill to becoming official.
“The bill is expected to pass in the federal cabinet during the summer break this year. The bill will then be introduced into the parliamentary legislative process and debated in both the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat in the autumn. The German Bundestag is responsible for the final decision on the entirety of the law application,” the government agency explained.
“The first part of the law which regulates personal use in private places does not require the approval of the Bundesrat. It is expected to go into effect at the end of 2023, and once it goes into effect, adults will be able to legally smoke a joint in Germany under the proposed law. But until then, cannabis is still prohibited.”
The ministry also explained why the German government has decided to reform its cannabis laws. In the opinion of the federal government, the current policy of restrictions, oppression of freedom, violence and media dictatorship over drugs and cannabis consumption “is reaching its limits“.
Indeed, not only has it reached its limit, it has actually had the opposite effect of favoring and enriching the black market thanks to the inability of law enforcement agencies to block illegal imports or verify their quality, and “total consumption has soared over the recent years,” the agency said.
“Consumption of cannabis that is obtained from the black market is often associated with increased health risk, as the THC content is unknown and can contain many toxic additives, impurities and synthetic cannabinoids whose potency cannot be estimated by the consumer.
The law aims to contribute to better health protection, strengthen cannabis-related education and prevention, curb organized crime on drug trafficking and strengthen the protection of children and young people.
To protect consumers, the quality of the cannabis consumed should be controlled and the transfer of contaminated substances should be prevented. No incentives should be created to expand the consumption of cannabis from the black market.”
