If the traffic light goes, home cultivation of cannabis and possession of certain quantities should be permitted. The chairman of the Interior Committee has concerns – as does the insurers’ accident research.
The chairman of the Bundestag Interior Committee, Lars Castellucci (SPD), wants to vote against the traffic light coalition’s cannabis law. “My problem is the lack of protection for minors, the lack of opportunity to control and thus even facilitate criminal activity. It is a risky experiment,” Castellucci told the newspapers of the Bavarian media group. “I can show such willingness to take risks for myself, but not as a legislator. I therefore reject the proposal.” Castellucci has been leading the Interior Committee since January 2022, as there has so far been no majority for an AfD politician.
First of all, the leading health committee is supposed to finally deal with the legal plans today. Home cultivation and possession of certain quantities should therefore be permitted for adults from April 1st. Clubs for joint non-commercial cultivation should be possible on July 1st. Numerous rules and regulations are planned. There is widespread criticism of the plans from medical associations, the judiciary and, among others, the interior ministers of the federal states. Parliament is expected to approve the legislative plans of the traffic light coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP on Friday.
“In the coalition agreement, we agreed on the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults in licensed shops. That would also have been the right answer to the failed drug policy of the last few decades,” Castellucci told the newspapers.
Be careful about “mixed consumption” with cannabis while driving
Experts believe that with the planned legalization of cannabis, problems with “mixed consumption” when driving are to be feared. “If alcohol is consumed alongside cannabis, this increases the risk of accidents,” said the insurer’s head of accident research, Kirstin Zeidler, to the dpa. “As soon as alcohol is involved, there must be a zero tolerance limit for cannabis driving in the interests of road safety. Alcohol and cannabis together are unpredictable.”
Accident researcher Zeidler said that mixed consumption played a role even before the release. Around 40 percent of drivers who caused accidents with personal injuries while using drugs also had alcohol in their blood. “Even low doses of alcohol increase the effects, as international studies show.” In the Netherlands, there is a limit of 1 nanogram of THC per milliliter of blood serum for mixed consumption with cannabis. “Anyone who drives should be sober and clean,” emphasized Zeidler.
Source: Stern
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