Top German officials have stated that the coalition government of the nation will continue with plans to introduce a marijuana law after receiving positive feedback from the European Union.
Karl Lauterbach, Health Minister, stated Tuesday that a revised proposal for legalization would be presented to the legislature “in a few weeks,” according translation.
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.
Es geht voran! Der Gesundheitsminister will in den kommenden Wochen einen ersten Gesetzentwurf zur #Legalisierung von #Cannabis vorlegen. @Karl_Lauterbach habe “sehr gute Ruckmeldungen” aus Brussel bekommen.
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Kristine Lutke MdB March 14, 2023
Lauterbach stated that officials from the European Commission confirmed that the country was capable of taking the next step. Lauterbach said that the initial government plan would need to be modified. He did not specify the details of those revisions, but stated they would “take into consideration European regulations and what should be or shouldn’t be notified.”
According to the minister of health, the coalition government will try to comply with European legislation and still achieve their objectives. EuropaPress reported that the primary goals of the coalition government will be to “reduce crime” and make cannabis use as safe and secure as possible.
A separate bill for marijuana legalization from progressive German lawmakers will be presented to the Bundestag Health committee on Wednesday. According to the sponsors, the legislation is needed to speed up the end of prohibition.
The expectation is that the body rejects the alternative proposal, in order to wait to see what the government actually proposes.
The EU supports the idea of legalizing cannabis in Germany. However, the United Nations (UN), has stated that members cannot go beyond medical cannabis or decriminalization under a 1961 treaty. This treaty includes countries such as the U.S. and Germany.
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.
Germany’s government has proposed a soon-to be-revised plan that would allow anyone aged 18 or older to purchase and possess between 20 and 30 grams of marijuana in federally licensed shops and pharmacies.
They can also grow up three plants for their own personal use. However, there are rules that they must 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 to be subjected to the country’s retail tax. However, the plan doesn’t call for an additional “special consumption” tax. Instead, it argues that it should be set at a rate comparable with the illegal market.
This framework was the result of months of negotiations and review within the administration and the coalition government. German 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 toured 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.
In April , a new international survey found that majority support was for legalization across several key European countries including Germany.
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The post Germany Will Go Forward with Marijuana Legalization after Receiving “Very Good Feedback” From EU, Top Official Says originally appeared on Marijuana Moment.
