Planned cannabis legalization: What you should know

After decades of discussions, the Bundestag is set to vote this Friday on the partial legalization of cannabis in Germany. There has been widespread criticism of the traffic light coalition’s plans for controlled release with numerous specifications until recently.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) said on Thursday in Berlin that he was very confident that the law would be passed as prepared. “This is an important improvement in our drug policy.” The Union called on doubting members of the coalition to vote no. The judges’ association warned that the judiciary would be overburdened by a proposed amnesty regulation.

Lauterbach said: “With this law we will achieve that we will significantly reduce the black market, that we will better protect children and young people and that we will have a safe product for consumers who consume and are older.” The current policy has failed because there are more and more consumers, including young people.

Cannabis clubs planned from July

The traffic light coalition’s legislative plans provide for the release of the drug with numerous rules. Cultivation and possession of certain quantities for personal consumption should therefore be permitted for adults from April 1st. Clubs for non-commercial cultivation should be possible on July 1st. Warnings come from, among others, medical associations and domestic politicians at the federal and state levels, including from the co-governing SPD. Some advocates are calling for more widespread release. The law should be voted on by roll call.

Before the Bundestag vote, pediatricians warned against its release. “We fear that cannabis will increasingly be passed on to children and young people if the substance is legalized for adults,” said the President of the Professional Association of Pediatric and Adolescent Doctors (BVKJ), Michael Hubmann, to the “Ärzte Zeitung” on Thursday. “We are already not getting a picture of the protection of children and young people when it comes to alcohol and nicotine.”

Union health expert Tino Sorge once again appealed to members of the traffic light factions to vote no: “Stop this irresponsible project.” The coalition members should listen to warnings from their own specialist politicians, the CDU politician told the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday). The current situation is problematic. “But a completely unsuitable and highly dangerous law cannot be the answer.” The Union is ready for a new attempt that takes up criticism from established experts.

The German Association of Judges warned that the judiciary would be overburdened by an amnesty regulation provided for in the law. “The judiciary is expecting more than 100,000 files nationwide that will have to be checked again in the event of the planned retroactive remission of penalties for cannabis offenses,” said Federal Managing Director Sven Rebehn to the editorial network Germany. For the public prosecutor’s offices, the law meant “that they have to manually evaluate all criminal files relating to the Narcotics Act again to determine whether the facts in question would be unpunished under the new legal situation.” The courts therefore also face an enormous additional burden.

Smoking is prohibited near schools and sports facilities

The umbrella organization of German cannabis social clubs expects a boom after legalization. “I assume that we will have 3,000 or even 4,000 clubs in Germany within a year,” said association chairman Steffen Geyer to the Germany editorial network. There are currently 300 groups that are in the founding phase of a club or are just waiting for the law to finally come into force. “Growing associations” for adults should be permitted, in which up to 500 members residing in Germany grow cannabis together and sell it to each other for their own consumption – a maximum of 50 grams per member per month.

Adults aged 18 and over should generally be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal consumption. Three live cannabis plants should become legal in your own home and up to 50 grams of cannabis for personal consumption. Public consumption should be banned, among other things, in schools, sports facilities and within sight of them – specifically within 100 meters of the entrance area as the crow flies. No later than 18 months after the law comes into force, an initial assessment should be available on, among other things, how it affects the protection of children and young people.

After a resolution in the Bundestag, the law will finally go to the Bundesrat. But there is no need for approval there. Lauterbach said: “I therefore expect the law to pass in the way we have developed it over the months.” In principle, the state chamber could, with the necessary majority, call the joint mediation committee with the Bundestag and thus slow down the process. Bavaria wants to work for this. A corresponding proposal from the government factions of the CSU and Free Voters received the necessary majority in the Munich state parliament on Thursday.