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Germany to legalise cannabis for recreational use by 2024 Josh Milton The Metro Thursday 27 Oct 2022 The government said yesterday it hopes to make it perfectly legal for adults over 18 to purchase and own up to 30g of marijuana and privately grow three plants. It could be used at home and in public, health minister Karl Lauterbach said at a press conference in Berlin, as cannabis would no longer be considered a narcotic. ‘If this law comes to pass, it would be the most liberal project to legalise cannabis in Europe, but also the most regulated market,’ he said. ‘It could be a model for Europe.’ Government-regulated shops and ‘if neccessary’ pharmacies would be permitted to sell pot under plans not yet approved by Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag. And Lauterbach, a trained physician, knows a thing or two about cannabis, he said. ‘I can only say that I have actually tried it. I have also made that public,’ he said. ‘However, I am not a user and I would not benefit from this regulation either, because I only took it to see what it is like.’ Around four million Germans have tried cannabis at least once over the last 12 months, he said, adding that criminalising cannabis ‘isn’t working’. The government’s key issues paper said: ‘The drug policy must be renewed. We want to reform cannabis consumption from a health perspective.’ All ‘ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings’ related to cannabis use and supply would also be wiped, the Federal Ministry of Health added. Alongside cannabis, the proposals would permit tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a derivative of hemp, and roll out a ‘cannabis tax’. The plan is a key plank of the coalition government’s manifesto announced last year, with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) leading with the progressive Greens and pro-business Free Democrats. Key details of how exactly cannabis will be regulated and distributed have not yet been hashed out as the law will have to be squared off with EU law. Lauterbach said the three-party coalition will have to ensure it is ‘internationally acceptable’ and ‘in line with international law’ to avoid any legal hold-ups. ‘I could well imagine, if everything goes well, that legalisation will then be achieved in 2024,’ he added. Berlin will pitch the cornerstone paper to the European Commission, the executive wing of the EU that will sanction the law. Niklas Kouparanis, chief executive at Bloomwell Group, one of Germany’s largest cannabis firms, told Reuters Germany should have a plan B if the Commission doesn’t give decriminalising cannabis the green light. ‘If the EU Commission says no to Germany’s current approach, our government should seek alternative solutions,’ he said. ‘Not just say: Well, we tried our best.’ Malta became the first European country to legalise cannabis for recreational use last year. EU’s smallest member state narrowly beat Luxembourg in decriminalising cannabis use, allowing people to grow four plants at home. While the Netherlands allows the sale of small amounts in coffee shops. Currently, only medical cannabis is legal under Germany’s Narcotics Act. The current charge for drug possession or selling drugs can vary but generally ranges from a €25,000 ($30,000) fine to two years in prison. https://metro.co.uk/2022/10/27/germany-to-legalise-cannabis-use-for-recreational-use-by-2024-17650015/
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