For months, Bayern has been up in arms against traffic light marijuana plans. In order to give their criticism of Lauterbach and Co more emphasis, the state government is now sending a new report into the ring.
Munich (dpa / lby) – Next round in the ongoing dispute over the federal plans for cannabis legalization: A legal opinion commissioned by Bavaria obviously supports the critical attitude of the state government to the federal legalization plan. The results that would be presented this Wednesday “are clear,” said Health Minister Klaus Holetschek in Munich. The CSU politician rejects any legalization as a stimulant “for the completely wrong way”. The other countries that have followed this path “are also not successful models. The state is making itself into a dealer.”
In mid-December, Holetschek commissioned Bernhard Wegener, Chair of Public Law and European Law at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen, with clarifying the international and European legal limits of cannabis legalization in Germany. The concrete results of the report are to be published at 12.30 p.m. as part of a press conference.
“For medical reasons, I consider the legalization of cannabis for “pleasure purposes” sought by the traffic light coalition to be very dangerous,” emphasized Holetschek, who has been criticizing the legalization plans for months. Among other things, this would play down the health risks, especially for young people. “But the legal framework of the Berlin cornerstones also raises many questions.”
In addition, Holetschek had also asked the EU Commission in Brussels to veto the plans of the federal government because it violated European law. This obliges Germany and the other EU countries to criminalize the manufacture, sale and distribution of narcotic substances such as cannabis. The only exception to this is strictly monitored trade that is used for medical or scientific purposes.
From Holetschek’s point of view, cannabis legalization would significantly exacerbate the drug problem in Germany: “I think it would be dangerous and negligent if the legalization of cannabis would add another source of pollution,” he told the German Press Agency in Munich. Health protection must be taken seriously, “that’s why we can’t open another barrel”. As far as the consumption of alcohol and smoking is concerned, the social consensus “which has grown historically in this country” must also be taken into account.
“Of course, alcohol and tobacco also cause problems,” continued Holetschek. It is important to keep a close eye on the issues. “Although alcohol consumption has declined overall over the long term, we are now unfortunately seeing an increase in smoking.”
Cannabis legalization is one of the major projects of the traffic light coalition. In their coalition agreement, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP had agreed to make it possible for “controlled sales of the drug to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops”. Cannabis is to be cultivated and sold under state regulation in Germany. Growing a few plants yourself should also be allowed.
The traffic light justifies the project with the fact that the prohibition policy did not prevent use, instead there was even an increase in consumption. Furthermore, a legal and state-controlled sale could improve youth and health protection, since less contaminated cannabis is in circulation. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) presented the first concrete ideas for implementation in the autumn. A draft law should be available by the end of March.