Top German health officials presented a revised plan to legalize marijuana in Germany.
The updated legalization framework was released by the German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Ozdemir on Wednesday. They shared details during a press conference.
Lauterbach stated that “the previous cannabis policy had failed.” “Now we need to find new ways.”
He said that the new plan would allow for “the controlled delivery to adults of cannabis within clear limits” and added that “we want [to fight] the black market and] push back against drug-related crime.”
Wir bringen Legalisierung von #Cannabis Konsum auf den Weg. Die bisherige Drogenpolitik ist gescheitert. Seit 2011 steigen die Delikte, der Jugendschutz versagt weitgehend. Jetzt soll durch Cannabis Clubs ein legaler Konsum mit besserem Jugendschutz kommen https://t.co/1NGyV39fCG
— Professor Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach April 12, 2023
Ozdemir said, for his part that cannabis use is a social reality.
He said that decades of prohibition policies had turned a blindeye to the problem and primarily caused it.
Wir maximieren den Schutz von Jugendlichen UND erlauben eine kontrollierte Abgabe von #Cannabis an Erwachsene, die schutzt und nicht bevormundet. Guter Tag fur Jugendschutz & Justiz, kein guter Tag fur Dealer! @Karl_Lauterbach @MarcoBuschmann
— Cem Ozdemir, @cem_oezdemir April 12, 2023
This plan is a reduction in the legalization framework the government originally announced last year. Although there would be some sales components, there won’t be a national market for cannabis products.
Instead, the government wants to allow adults to possess up 25 grams of marijuana and to grow up to three cannabis plants for their personal use. They also want to permit “clubs” of up to 500 members, where growers could distribute similar products to those found in Spain or Malta.
Adults over 21 years old would have to purchase a maximum of 50 grams per month through the clubs. Sales to adults aged 18-21 would be restricted to 30 grams in a single month.
Clubs will not allow on-site consumption, but they can give members seven seeds and five cuttings for their home cultivation.
The plan also includes dispensaries being authorized in certain areas of Germany for five-year licenses. This will allow officials to examine the effects on the illegal market and consumption trends.
Germany will request the European Union’s approval for the sales component of the bill. The body would not have to review the possession and home-grown language.
Official legislation detailing the government’s previously announced framework was originally scheduled to be released at the end of the first quarter 2023. However, that timeline was extended “due t scheduling reasons” as officials tried to revise it to avoid any conflict with international laws.
The ministers suggested Wednesday that a formal bill be introduced to implement the new scaled-back framework. Legalization could take place sometime in the future.
BM @Karl_Lauterbach und BM @cem_oezdemir stellen heute die nachsten Schritte zu #Cannabis-Gesetzesplanen vor.
“Nun schaffen wir stimmige & pragmatische Cannabis-Politik mit Perspektive. Privater Anbau, Besitz & Konsum werden legal,” sagt Ozdemir zur Einigung der Bundesregierung. pic.twitter.com/jrNiKi9y4v— BMEL (@bmel), April 12, 2023
The earlier framework, which the coalition had supported last year, allowed adults aged 18 to purchase and possess 20-30 grams of marijuana from federally licensed shops and pharmacies.
They may also have grown up to three plants to their own use. However, there are rules regarding how to keep them contained to protect youth access.
All criminal proceedings relating to offenses that were legalized under the reform will be suspended and closed after implementation.
Marijuana would have been subjected to the country’s sale tax. However, the plan did not specify the amount. Instead, it argued that it should be set at an affordable rate, comparable with the illegal market.
#Cannabis | “Wir wollen ein ungelostes Problem helfen zu losen”, so #Gesundheitsminister @karl_lauterbach. Probleme des #CannabisKonsums sind #BeschaffungsKriminalitat und toxische Beimengungen. Ausserdem will er dem #Schwarzmarkt die Grundlage entziehen. #Jugendschutz @bmg_bund pic.twitter.com/77DHTld7Aq
— phoenix (@phoenix_de April 12, 2023
Lawmakers who have advocated for broad-reaching cannabis legalization policies were mostly positive to Wednesday’s announcement. However, some pointed out areas that they would like to see improve.
Kristine Lutke, FDP, stated that the framework was a “great first step”, but it is too restrictive with respect to THC limits. She also suggested that commercial sales should be allowed more widely in the country.
Das Eckpunktepapier ist ein grosser erster Schritt in Richtung #Legalisierung von #Cannabis. Allerdings ist das Konzept zu restriktiv im Hinblick auf:
1 #THC-Obergrenzen
2 #Edibles
3 Wenige Modellregionen
Wir als @fdpbt arbeiten weiter an der Legalisierung wie im KoaV!Kristine Lutke MdB April 12, 2023
Kirsten Kappert -Gonther, Green Party, also lamented the absence of “a clear commitment towards edibles,” noting how they “contribute toward harm reduction than inhalation.”
Ziel bleibt die umfassende Legalisierung mit dem flachendeckenden Verkauf von Cannabis in lizensierten Fachgeschaften.
Ein Jammer, dass nach vorherrschender juristischer Meinung derzeit dafur auf EU-Ebene noch keine Mehrheit besteht. 4/6— Kirsten Kappert-Gonther (@KirstenKappert) April 12, 2023
Lauterbach stated last month that German officials received “very positive feedback” from EU regarding the previous reform framework. He would be revising the plan before officially introducing a bill to the legislature.
The initial framework for legalization in Germany was approved by the Federal Cabinet late last year. However, the government needed to obtain the approval of the EU to make sure that the reform would not violate their international obligations.
This framework was developed after months of negotiations and review within the German administration and the country’s “traffic light” coalition government. Officials made the first step towards legalization last summer by launching a series hearings to inform legislation that would end country’s prohibition.
To inform their country’s legalization strategy, a group of German legislators, along with Burkhard Blienert (Narcotic Drugs Commissioner), visited California last year and visited cannabis businesses .
This visit was two months after high-ranking officials from Germany, Luxembourg and Malta met to discuss the challenges and plans related to recreational marijuana legalization.
In 2021, leaders of the coalition government stated that they had reached an accord to end cannabis prohibition. They also enacted regulations for a legal market. Last year, they first previewed details of that plan.
An international survey, released last year, found that majority support was given for legalization by several key European countries including Germany.
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The post German Officials Reveal Revised Plan To Legalize Marijuana was first published on Marijuana Moment.
