The German cabinet has approved a proposal to legalize the use and cultivation of cannabis, potentially paving the way for a broader acceptance of the drug across Europe.
Under the proposed legislation, adults would be permitted to have up to 25 grams of cannabis, cultivate up to three plants, or obtain marijuana through membership in non-profit cannabis associations.
The bill –which is still to be approved by Parliament– was introduced on Wednesday and mandates stringent cultivation guidelines – cannabis associations with up to 500 members must ensure their premises are secure, with fortified doors and windows. Greenhouses should be enclosed. Members are prohibited from consuming cannabis within these clubs or near educational institutions, playgrounds or sports facilities.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left administration believes that this law will diminish the underground market, safeguard users from tainted marijuana and decrease drug-associated criminal activities.
A significant aspect of this initiative, which aims to destigmatize cannabis consumption, is an awareness campaign about its potential dangers. This is expected to eventually lead to reduced usage, stated Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, a member of Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD).
Lauterbach emphasized that such an awareness drive would be less effective without a change in legislation.
“With the current procedures we could not seriously protect children and young people, the topic has been made a taboo,” Lauterbach remarked during a press briefing in Berlin where the legislation was unveiled.
“We have rising, problematic consumption, we couldn’t simply allow this to go on,” he said. “So this is an important turning point in our drug policy.”
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However, there’s strong resistance to the bill, especially from conservative leaders who argue that it might promote cannabis consumption and burden the authorities even more.
Armin Schuster, the conservative interior minister for Saxony, expressed to the RND media group, “This law will be linked to a complete loss of control.”
A U.N. drug oversight body noted in March that governmental efforts to sanction recreational marijuana use have resulted in heightened usage and related health issues.
Several European nations, including Germany since 2017, have already sanctioned cannabis for specific medical applications. Some have also decriminalized its broader use.
In late 2021, Malta became the inaugural European nation to permit restricted cannabis cultivation and possession for individual use. If the bill passes, Germany would be the first major European nation to adopt such a stance.
The German hemp association criticized the guidelines as “unrealistic” arguing that only by allowing cannabis retail in stores can the underground market be effectively countered.
