German officials plan to move forward with a scaled down version of cannabis legalization after abandoning a more ambitious proposal that would have allowed legal cannabis sales in the entire country.
Karl Lauterbach (the country’s health minister) had promised to announce new cannabis legislation before the end of this year’s first quarter. He was due to speak at a conference on Friday, but he was forced to cancel because of illness and scheduling conflicts. German media are reporting details about the reformulated plan.
“We are on track. Lauterbach made a few comments on Friday. According to a translation, Lauterbach stated that he had “revised the proposals a bit”. Lauterbach stated that he would return to the European Union (EU), “soon”, with a “good proposition” that protects both the general health and the safety of young people.
The new plan is a model that includes the first reported by Zeit. It appears that this is an attempt by German officials, to legalize cannabis as widely as possible without violating EU rules.
First, for a period four years, the policy change would allow marijuana sales to be limited in certain areas. This is similar to a regional pilot program. This would enable officials to assess the effects of reform in both large cities and in more rural areas. If the program proves to be a success, it may be expanded to other areas of the country.
Lauterbach’s plan would allow Germans to grow cannabis for their personal use. This change would not require the EU’s approval.
Although details of the homegrow rule are still being finalized, reports suggest that consumers may be permitted to possess between 20 and 30 grams of cannabis. Non-commercial growers can then form and distribute marijuana to themselves through “cannabis clubs”. These clubs are already in existence in Spain and the Netherlands, and Malta plans to allow them.
Last year , officials from Germany, Malta and the Netherlands met together to discuss legalization of cannabis.
On Friday, advocates for legalization in Germany stated that they are eager to learn more information about Lauterbach’s proposal.
Kristine Lutke (German parliamentarian and spokesperson for the Free Democratic Party on addiction and drug policy) tweeted “Finally!” “I really look forward to the exact details!”
Endlich! Gesundheitsminister @Karl_Lauterbach kundigt heute uberarbeitete Vorschlage zur #Legalisierung von #Cannabis an – auf die genauen Details bin ich schon sehr gespannt!
https://t.co/SAj6bTgYkb
Kristine Lutke MdB March 31, 2023
The German Federal Cabinet approved a framework for legalization late last year. However, the government wanted to obtain the approval of the EU in order to make sure that the reform would not violate their international obligations.
Adults over 18 years old would be able to purchase 20-30 grams of marijuana from licensed federal stores or pharmacies. Individuals could also grow up three plants for their own personal use. However, there are rules that will prevent youth access to the marijuana.
The country would tax marijuana and impose a special consumption tax. All criminal proceedings relating to violations made legal by the reform will be closed and suspended.
Lauterbach, the minister for health, stated earlier this month that German officials received “very positive feedback” from EU. He would be revising the plan before officially introducing a bill to the legislature.
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.
Just one day before the details of the revised plan were revealed, the country’s Social Democratic Party, part of the traffic light alliance, expressed doubts about the plan. It stated that it thought “comprehensive legislation was obviously not possible in the short-term for reasons of European Law.”
Ausserdem fordern wir eine Amnestie fur die bestraften Konsument*innen und gehen endlich die Diskriminierung im Strassenverkehr an, indem wir uns an den Grenzwerten von Kanada und den Niederlanden orientieren. Jetzt muss die Regierung nachziehen! (2/3)
— Jusos in der SPD (@jusos) March 30, 2023
Some legislators stated that they expected to receive the details of the revised proposal before the end of April.
Lauterbach suggested earlier this month that officials from the EU Commission had indicated to him that they might consider the move. Lauterbach stressed that the coalition government would work to adhere to EU rules, while also working to reduce criminality and make cannabis use more safe.
A separate bill for legalizing marijuana by progressive German lawmakers was also presented to the Bundestag Health Committee. It was heard at a public hearing earlier in the month. The legislation was necessary to speed up the end of prohibition, according to the sponsors. Although no vote was taken, it is expected that the body will reject any alternative proposal. This is in order to wait to see how the new proposal from the government does.
The United Nations (UN), has stated that members cannot go beyond medical cannabis or decriminalization in accordance with a 1961 treaty, to which countries such as Germany and the U.S. belong.
The UN’s International Narcotics Control Board recently published an annual report in which it suggested that the U.S. federal government was violating the treaty by refusing to enforce prohibition at state-level. It also stated that the Constitution doesn’t exempt the country from its treaty obligations.
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 innovative international survey, released in April , found that majority support was given for legalization by several key European countries including Germany.
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The post Germany Will Go Forward with Scaled-Back Marijuana reform Plan Amid EU Review was first published on Marijuana Moment.
