Germany has taken this Wednesday the first step towards the controlled legalization of cannabis. The bill approved by the Government in the Council of Ministers contemplates, among other things, the decriminalization of possession of up to 25 grams and the self-cultivation of up to three marijuana plants.
“It is a long-term shift in German drug policy,” declared the Minister of Health, the Social Democrat Karl Lauterbach, after receiving the go-ahead for a project that will still have to go through parliament. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s tripartite party has a majority in the chamber, which is why Lauterbach anticipates that the rule may enter into force this year.
According to the plan approved today by the cabinet, those over 18 years of age will be able to purchase a maximum of 25 grams of cannabis (and up to 50 grams per month) through associations created for this purpose and that will have a license for cultivation, of which They must be members.
At the same time, a large-scale awareness campaign will be launched to warn of the dangers of THC (main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) consumption in children and adolescents and the corresponding prevention programs will be expanded.
“Every young person will know: if I use cannabis regularly, I am damaging my brain, I am more likely to develop psychotic breaks, I may have non-reversible attention disorders,” Lauterbach said.
The minister explained that, compared to other models, such as the United States or the Netherlands, his is the most appropriate to put a stop to a situation in which the black market is increasingly “problematic” due to the great incidence of mixtures with toxic substances and high doses of THC. The model followed by Lauterbach is closer to Malta and Luxembourg
Germany is also facing an increase in consumption among minors and an increase in crime, since, as he recalled, at the moment 50% of drug-related crimes in the country are connected to cannabis.
“We want to limit consumption and make it safer, but not expand it,” said the minister.
Since the licensed associations for the cultivation of cannabis will distribute it practically at cost price and guaranteeing quality, Lauterbach expressed the expectation that consumers will opt for this option and leave the black market. “I think we can push back the black market,” the minister said at a press conference in Berlin.
Associations authorized for the sale of cannabis may not have more than 500 members in order to maintain some control. It will not be possible to advertise the product and limits will be imposed on consumption, still to be specified, for driving vehicles.
The bill has been the subject of controversy in Germany, as it falls short for cannabis consumer organizations and imposes too strict limits, while the Christian Democratic opposition has warned of a “loss of control”.
“With its bill, the government agrees to tolerate the risk of dependence and the dangers to health that cannabis use implies,” said Tino Sorge, spokesman for health issues for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
According to 2021 data from the state statistical office Destatis, 34.7% of Germans have used cannabis at some point in their lives, while 8.8% have done so in the last month.
