Health: Cities see states as responsible for cannabis associations

The German Association of Cities warns of additional tasks for municipalities with the future legalization of cannabis cultivation associations. “A few days before the start, it has still not been finally clarified in all federal states who is responsible for the approval and for the controls of the cultivation associations,” said General Manager Helmut Dedy to the German Press Agency. The states have a duty to do this. “The cities already have enough to do with controlling consumption in public.” There should not be any further burden.

Three months after the legalization of cannabis for adults and private cultivation with numerous requirements, a second stage will come into force on July 1. From then on, non-commercial “cultivation associations” with up to 500 members can start up. Adults can then cultivate cannabis together and give it to each other for personal consumption. The clubs must apply for a permit, and regular inspections are also provided for by law. Where the responsibility for this has already been clarified, state authorities have generally taken over the tasks relating to the cultivation associations, said Dedy. And that is a good thing.

The Association of German Cities also criticized the fact that all the new rules on cannabis would then be in force, but not much had been done in terms of more education and prevention. The law was accompanied by political promises to strengthen addiction prevention. However, the cities did not receive any additional support. Dedy demanded: “In the future, the federal and state governments must contribute more to the financing of the cities’ municipal drug and addiction assistance.” This includes prevention services, but also education for consumers. “Especially with a view to protecting young people, prevention work must be further strengthened – not only for cannabis, but also for other addictive substances such as nicotine or alcohol.”