The coalition leaders in Germany have announced that they reached an agreement on the bill to legalize pot. This resolves outstanding differences which had delayed action. A vote will be held in the last week of February, and the law will come into effect in April.
Leaders of the Social Democratic Party, Free Democratic Party and Greens issued a statement in which they said that the proposed regulations were “a real milestone” for a modern drug-policy, strengthening prevention, improving health and protecting children and youth.
Legal Tribune Online reports that the legislation originally proposed by federal health minister Karl Lauterbach last year is expected to be revised slightly to reflect SPD concerns. Plans are also being made to increase and speed up monitoring and reporting requirements relating to the illicit markets.
Last night, we agreed on the final details of cannabis legalization. “The fight against the black-market, decriminalization, and better protection for minors will be announced,” said the Health Minister on Thursday. The previous drug policy failed. A new beginning.
Wir haben uns gestern Abend auf letzte Details #Cannabis Legalisierung geeinigt. Die Bekampfung des Schwarzmarktes, Entkriminalisierung und ein besserer Jugendschutz werden wie angekundigt kommen. Die bisherige Drogenpolitik ist gescheitert, ein Neuanfang https://t.co/qDgbMvj9rz
Prof. Karl Lauterbach 2nd February 2024
The coalition said that the latest agreement between the parties would require an assessment of the impact of the reform on the illicit market to be done “in a timely fashion” according to the German Press Agency.
Kristine Lutke, Free Democratic Party, said: “We’re setting the course for an entirely different approach to marijuana and recognising the realities of living.”
Das #CanG wird wie vereinbart zum 1. April kommen!
Wir stellen die Weichen neu fur einen komplett anderen Umgang mit #Cannabis und erkennen die Lebensrealitaten an
#WeeklyWeedTweet— Kristine Lutke (@kristine_lutke). 2nd February 2024
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 was delayed in October, in part due to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. also pushed back the vote for November while supporters worked to improve the bill.
Carmen Wegge, SPD member of the SPD, said: “The final dice has been cast for a progressive German drug policy.” “I am delighted that the final Cannabisgesetz discussions took place and that we are now entering the home stretch by the end of the month!”
Die letzten Wurfel fur eine progressive Drogenpolitik in Deutschland sind gefallen!
Ich freue mich sehr, dass die abschliessenden Gesprache zum #Cannabisgesetz stattgefunden haben und wir Ende Februar nun in die Zielgerade laufen werden!
— Carmen Wegge 2nd February 2024 HTML0
The health minister answered questions at a December meeting from members who were opposed to legalization. He responded at several points to lawmakers who claimed that legalization could send the wrong message to youth , and increase underage consumption.
Lawmakers 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.
Voller Einsatz zahlt sich aus!
Der Knoten ist geplatzt, das #CanG kommt!
Endlich.
Zeitplan fur #Entkriminalisierung zum 1.4. wird gehalten.#cannabis https://t.co/qUpCcdmGn6
— Kirsten Kappert-Gonther January 1, 2024
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.
Officials plan to introduce a second complementary measure which would create pilot programs for commercial sale in all cities across 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 failed.
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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 and Christian Social Union CDU/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 it wants to receive the EU‘s approval to make sure the reform won’t 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 have taken a 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 as well as enacting regulations for a legal marijuana industry. They first revealed certain details of this plan in 2013.
In a new international survey released last year , the majority of respondents in Germany and other key European countries supported legalization.
Florida Lawmakers Greenlight Proposal To Eliminate Medical Marijuana Registration Fees For Veterans
The post Germany’s Coalition Government Reached Final Deal on Marijuana Legalization Bill with Vote Set for This Month first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
