Germany today became the third country in Europe to legalize cannabis.
Several European countries have moved towards softer cannabis legislation in recent years, but Sweden stands out and goes in the opposite direction.
But now voices are being raised for a more liberal Swedish drug policy among the parliamentary parties’ youth associations.
As a New Year’s celebration, the seconds counted down to midnight, when cannabis became legal in
Germany, the EU’s most populous country. After several years of debate and opposition, adults who have lived in Germany for more than six months are now allowed to have up to three plants and 50 grams of cannabis in their homes, as well as carry 25 grams in their pockets.
Thousands of Germans made their way into central Berlin to celebrate into the wee hours, the night before Easter Monday. Dancing to the music in a frenzy, the revelers lit up their legally rolled joints, so that the distinctive smell of cannabis wafted around the Brandenburg Gate.
– I am happy and I feel free. It was time this became legal, says Lian to the TV4 Nyheternas reporter on the spot.
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Should cannabis become legal: This is how people in town respond
Want to legalize
cannabis in Sweden
The parties in the Riksdag today agree that Sweden should continue to have a restrictive drug policy and as recently as last year the government tightened the drug legislation. The Tidö parties agree on the Swedish model, but the youth unions are more divided on the issue.
The Swedish Democratic Youth Association and the Christian Democratic Youth Association flatly say no to a libe
implementation of the Swedish drug policy. The Moderate Youth Association together with the Center Party’s Youth Association and the Liberal Youth Association, on the other hand, want cannabis to become legal in Sweden.
Luf’s confederation chairman Erik Berg says that it is only a matter of time before Sweden legalizes cannabis and welcomes Germany’s law change.
– We have had a very outdated and archaic drug policy for a very long time, which has led to a lot of suffering among people who are basically sick, not criminals. I think it is absolutely the right way to go as in Germany, says Luf’s union chairman Erik Berg to TV4 Nyheterna.
“We are negative about cannabis legalization”
The liberal unions are being countered by the Christian Democrats’ Youth Union, which wants Sweden to stick to the strict drug policy.
– We are negative about cannabis legalization in Sweden. We think that the focus of drug policy should be harm minimization, says KDU’s union chairman Stefan Sarmes to TV4 Nyheterna.