If it comes to traffic lights, cannabis should soon become legal. From when smoking weed should be allowed and what the next coalition plans. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially answered the viewer`s question “Mr. Scholz, when will Bubatz legal?” with “Hm?” on ARD. When the question was repeated, he replied with a smile that preparations for the legalization of cannabis were underway. This will come during this parliamentary term, the exact date has not yet been set. Özdemir told Bild am Sonntag: “Many farmers are in the starting blocks to grow hemp.” The Green politician is sure that hemp cultivation will begin as soon as the Bundestag approves legalization. Until now, cannabis cultivation in Germany is only allowed if the plant is used for medicinal purposes. The government also wants to put more emphasis on drug checking models. These include contact points where, for example, revellers have the quality and purity of illegally purchased drugs tested anonymously in order to better assess the dangers. The key points now stipulate, among other things, that the purchase and possession of a maximum of 20 grams of cannabis from the age of 18 is legal. In addition, cannabis is no longer classified as a narcotic. The legal cannabis will then be offered by licensed dealers.
According to Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP), anyone who wants to sell cannabis for recreational purposes must prove their knowledge of the drug and the associated risks. Pharmacies, for example, could serve as outlets. Burkhard promises a cannabis legalization law for this legislative period, that is, until 2025. Among other things, he wants to orient himself on the Greens` Platonic bill, in which, contrary to what has been heard in the ranks of the coalition partners so far, the self-cultivation of cannabis must be legalized. But decriminalization could also come sooner. Every year, around 200,000 people in Germany are prosecuted for possession, cultivation or distribution of cannabis. The vast majority of them were in possession of only a few grams. Swift decriminalization, i.e.
suspension of criminal investigations and prosecutions, would free these individuals from arbitrary persecution and build capacity for relevant crimes among investigative authorities. As Lauterbach writes on Twitter, preparations for cannabis legalization are in full swing. “`Bubatz consumption` should become legal and safer, but not increase,” says Lauterbach. For children and adolescents, the risks would outweigh the risks. For adults, however, safe consumption is justifiable. In this way, the new government wants to prevent conditions like those in the Netherlands. Although cannabis has been tolerated for some time, only sales to end users and possession of small amounts are decriminalized. Drugs continue to be produced and sold to traffickers by organized crime, which has led to the rise of criminal clans and violent clashes in the country. “I want to make it clear from the beginning that I am serious about the change of direction,” Blienert told RND. He will have to be judged on this in the coming years.
If he keeps his word, the way will finally be clear for cannabis users in a world without law enforcement and extenders. In an interview with the RND shortly after his appointment, Burkard made it clear that lagalization would come. He made it clear that he considered the previous ban policy to have failed. Nevertheless, he also explained that full legalization takes time. Care must be taken to ensure that no loopholes in the law are left and that the path from cultivation to consumption can be traced. “It makes no sense to break legalization on the knee now, if we then have to close the outlets a little later,” Blienert says. The date of entry into force of this regulation is not yet known. It is clear that it must be passed during the government`s term of traffic lights. However, the release of cannabis will not come too quickly, also because the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis have added many pressing problems. It remains to be seen when the government will focus on approving cannabis – in a “turning point” recently proclaimed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, legalisation will not be a top priority. In an interview with the legal magazine LTO, Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs Burkhard Blienert referred to “two acute crisis situations that have a political priority”: the war in Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic. In early May, the 2022 World Marijuana March took place.
It revolved around a polarizing topic that has been discussed for a long time: Should smoking weed be allowed in Germany? For many, the legalization of cannabis is long overdue, others warn of the health damage caused by the drug. The traffic light government announced in its coalition agreement to introduce a “controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed stores.” Now, the details and key points on the legalization of cannabis have been known and these have also been decided by the federal Cabinet. It is taking shape. Coalition circles had previously said they had already agreed to start directly with the “Canadian solution”: cultivation, processing, wholesaling and trade will be legalized at the same time and could take place in Germany after the law is introduced. The parties justify this approach by the fact that “quality is controlled, the transfer of contaminated substances is prevented and the protection of minors is guaranteed,” according to the coalition agreement of the SPD, Greens and FDP. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) added: “The planned legalisation would relieve the police. It could then focus on combating the black market and the trade in hard drugs. All signs point to legalization. In addition to a minimum wage of 12 euros and a capped CO² price, the release of cannabis is also in the coalition agreement of the traffic light parties. Now, with Burkhard Blienert (SPD), a federal drug commissioner has been appointed, who is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to the former CDU-run health ministry and a bill for legalisation in progress. Burkard Blienert has been appointed Federal Commissioner for Drug and Drug Addiction.
His two predecessors, Marlene Mortler and Daniela Ludwig (both CSU), had failed in previous years with the prohibition policy they had propagated.