Germany’s Health Minister says that despite reports of fragmented support among legislators, he is confident that the bill to legalize cannabis will be passed by the national parliament in a month.
According to a translated statement, “I continue assuming that the cannabis legislation will be passed by the Bundestag during the week of February 19th-23rd. It can then take effect on April 1st.” Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.
He said that the increased THC content in unregulated products is a necessity for reform. The illicit market, he added, “must be dried out.”
Lauterbach stated that “the controlled distribution of marijuana is the best way to achieve it, along with special protections for children and youth.”
Hier im https://t.co/Y7VAvBvL3R Gesprach der aktuelle Stand zur Cannabis Legalisierung. https://t.co/icyNXeWJkt
Prof. Karl Lauterbach 18 January 2024
These comments are made amid growing doubts over the chances of the legalization plan being implemented by the government. Certain legislators and officials from the state have expressed concerns, such as about the enforceability of restrictions on cannabis businesses.
Lauterbach acknowledged that not all violations could be punished, but added that “that is the case with each law,” and that “we have already a significant amount of work to do in controlling the black market,” as Welt am Sonntag reported.
Kristine Lutke, of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which, along with the SPD and Greens, is part of the coalition government of the country, stated in a post on social media that “even though the current situation is choppy, we are still confident that the adoption timeline will be adhered to.”
Die Argumente rund um das #CanG sind ausgetauscht und das Gesetz geeint. Wir lauten damit einen Umbruch im Umgang mit #Cannabis ein. Auch wenn es aktuell ruckelt, bin ich nach wie vor zuversichtlich, dass wir den Zeitplan fur die Verabschiedung einhalten.
#WeeklyWeedTweet
— Kristine Lutke (@kristine_lutke). 19 January 2024
Lauterbach has predicted that a vote will be held on the legalization proposal next month but it is not yet scheduled. While some state ministers of interior are opposing the reform, members of the Social Democratic Party who support the legalization principle have been increasingly questioning the specifics in the measure adopted by the Federal Cabinet in August.
The final vote on the Legalization Bill that was originally planned for last Month has been called off due to concerns raised by SPD leaders.
The first debate about the bill was delayed in October , in part because of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. also pushed back the vote that was scheduled for November while supporters worked to improve the bill.
The health minister answered questions from some members who oppose legalization at a meeting held last month. He responded at several points to lawmakers who claimed that legalization could send the wrong message to youth , and increase underage consumption.
Lawmakers have also made a number of changes to the bill in recent months, mainly to ease restrictions which were opposed by advocates and supporters within the Bundestag. The changes included increasing the maximum amount of marijuana that can be kept at home and eliminating the possibility of prison time for possession slightly above the limit.
In April, the legislators agreed to implement the reform in a phased manner. Possession and home cultivation will be legal for adults. In July, social clubs that distribute marijuana to their members will open.
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Eventually, officials plan to introduce a second complementary measure which would establish pilot sales programs in all cities of the country. This legislation will be revealed after it has been submitted to the European Commission to review.
After the final reading of the bill in the Bundestag it will be sent to the Bundesrat. This is a separate legislative organ that represents the German states. In September, members of the Bundesrat attempted to block the reform proposal but ultimately won .
The Health Committee of the Bundestag held an hearing recently, during which opponents criticised some aspects of the proposal. The Union, an alliance between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Unions (CSU), also presented a competing proposal. This would not legalize cannabis, but “improve the health protection, strengthen education, prevention, and research,” Kappert Gonther stated at the time.
In response to criticisms of the bill by medical and law enforcement organizations, the health minister stressed that a major campaign would be launched to educate the public on the dangers of cannabis use.
The German Federal Cabinet has approved an initial legalization framework. However, it also stated that would like to receive the EU‘s approval to make sure the reform will not violate their international obligations.
The framework is the result of months of discussions and reviews between the German government and the coalition of traffic lights. officials took the first step towards legalization by 2022. They launched a series hearings to inform legislation that will end prohibition.
In November, government officials from several countries, including the U.S. met in Germany to talk about international marijuana policy issues, as the host country works to legalize the drug.
In 2022, a group of German legislators, including Narcotics Drugs Commission Burkhard Blienert , will separately visit the U.S., and tour California cannabis businesses , to help inform their country’s legalization approach.
The visit was made after the top officials of Germany, Luxembourg and Malta met for the first time to discuss plans and challenges related to recreational marijuana legalization.
In 2021, the leaders of the coalition government announced that they had agreed to end cannabis prohibition. They also promised to enact regulations governing a legal cannabis industry.
In a new international survey released last year , the majority of respondents in Germany and other key European countries supported legalization.
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