Germany May See Cannabis Sales Legalized by the End of the Year
The new ruling coalition of three liberal parties led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz is finally making the first moves to set up a system of regulated legal sales of cannabis for recreational adult use. The consultations with experts have begun, and the legislation is in the process of being written.
With this initiative, the country is hoping to adopt a more sensible cannabis policy, and even Germany’s drug czar is on board saying that he has been among those many officials who worked hard to end the criminalization of otherwise law-abiding smokers.
Creating a Safer Environment
With medical marijuana already legal and even the cost of the treatment covered by insurance, Germany is rapidly rethinking its stance on cannabis consumption. The rationale behind the latest initiative is that a certain portion of the population would smoke marijuana and obtain it on the black market as long as there is no legal alternative.
By providing it through the creation of a regulated market, the authorities hope to control the quality of the product and thus protect consumers’ health. It’s especially important to ensure the safety of young people. The other goal is to deal a blow to criminal gangs currently profiting from illegal weed sales.
Expert Hearings Rolling Out
The latest step in the direction of cannabis legalization was an expert hearing that discussed how to proceed with the reform. The first of five, this hearing had speakers from fields as diverse as medical, legal, and government. Over 200 experts contributed to the debate that was centered on the issues of protecting young people, consumers in general, and public health.
Based on experts’ suggestions, the Ministry of Health will draft the legislation, and the law is likely to be passed and signed in the second half of 2022.
