Although many specifics still need to be worked out, the Federal Cabinet of Germany has officially approved a plan to legalise recreational marijuana across the country. Potentially making Germany the second country in Europe to make recreational marijuana legal, after Malta. But according to officials, the country's future ultimately depends on whether international and European policy permits it to advance.
Karl Lauterbach, Germany's Minister of Health, revealed plans to permit the adult use of cannabis for recreational purposes and controlled distribution, saying the proposal aims to achieve “the most liberal cannabis liberalisation in Europe, and, on the other hand ... the most tightly regulated market." also that “We want to decriminalise the use of cannabis in order to achieve better protection for children and young people, but also better health protection,”.
In addition to allowing people to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, the proposed legislation would also permit the cultivation and sale of small amounts of cannabis to adults in "approved specialty stores" and maybe even pharmacies. However, anyone under the age of 18 would still be forbidden from using cannabis.
German laws must comply with European legislation, and under the proposal, the government would regulate cannabis production, sale, and distribution as part of a controlled, legalised market, said Lauterbach, describing the reform as a possible “model” for other European countries. However, the health minister warned that many hurdles remained in the complex legislative process, adding that Germany’s three coalition parties will now assess if the plan is ”internationally acceptable” and “in line with international law.”
”I could well imagine, if everything goes well, that legalisation will then be achieved in 2024,” the health minister added.
Only Malta has fully legalized cannabis, even though numerous European nations have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. Legalising cannabis would push out Germany's cannabis black market and could increase annual tax revenues, create 27,000 new jobs, and generate cost savings of about $4.7 billion, according to a report by Reuters.
“If the EU Commission says no to Germany’s current approach, our government should seek alternative solutions. Not just say: Well, we tried our best,” said Niklas Kouparanis, chief executive at Bloomwell Group, one of Germany’s largest cannabis firms, reported Reuters.
Let's hope that the EU Commission sees the winds of change as a change for the better, and create an avenue for other countries to follow.
