(Berlin) Germany has revised its plan to legalize cannabis for recreational use in the face of reservations from the European Union, giving up the sale of this psychoactive plant in specialized stores in the short term.
Berlin presented a roadmap in October to introduce some of the most liberal cannabis legislation in Europe.
The German government published on Wednesday a new watered down version of this reform which will allow adults to possess small amounts of cannabis.
“The initial objectives have not changed […] : more safety in consumption, eradicating the black market, better protection of young people”, enumerated the Social Democrat Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach during a press conference.
The first part of the plan authorizes the creation of non-profit associations whose adult members, limited to 500, will be able to cultivate the plant for their sole consumption, under the supervision of the public authorities.
The creation of these “cannabis clubs” must be the subject of a bill in April, which will have to be adopted by the deputies.
Individuals will be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use, and will be able to grow three plants per adult.
“Consumption might thus be legalized this year”, underlined the Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens) during the same press conference.
It will always remain categorically prohibited for minors.
The second part will consist of testing, in certain regions still to be chosen and for five years, the production and trade in specialized stores within the framework of licenses granted by the State.
Such retail across Germany, envisaged in the first draft of the plan, was not possible under European law, according to Berlin.
This will “allow scientific examination of the effects of a commercial supply chain on youth and health protection and on the black market”, according to the proposals.
The experience, if it is conclusive, will serve as a model at European level and might lead to a modification of the law, explained Mr. Lauterbach, adding that he had had encouraging discussions with certain countries, without wanting to name them.
The objective of the reform is to replace a repressive policy which has “failed”, and to limit consumption.
Cannabis legalization is one of the flagship projects of Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrat coalition with the Greens and Liberals.
