Proponents of legal cannabis use in Germany’s coalition government want to legalize the drug this year but will face opposition from conservative lawmakers, the German TV channel writes DW News.
The proposed law would make it legal for people over the age of 18 to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis and to grow up to three plants for personal use.
The drug can also be made available through so-called cannabis clubs. They must be non-profit and funded by membership fees based on how much cannabis the members use. The clubs may have a maximum of 500 members and may grow cannabis for the members’ own use in greenhouses where you cannot see inside.
However, according to the proposal, no cannabis products would be allowed to be used in the clubs themselves or within a radius of 250 meters.
Criticism of the proposal
The government’s hope is to eliminate the drug trade, protect consumers from contaminated products and reduce drug-related crime.
But in the face of the government’s approval to present the bill, several legislators have expressed criticism of the proposed law.
Among other things, the politician Armin Schuster, from the opposition party Christian Democrats (CDU), has said that “this law will lead to a complete loss of control”. Schuster also accused the government of potentially harming the mental health of children and young people in particular.
Others in the opposition believe that the government is pushing for legalization despite legal obstacles and advice from experts. The German Judges Association warns that the black market will grow and that their workload will increase.
To be debated after the summer
The bill will be debated by parliament’s lower house, the Bundestag, after the summer recess and is likely to undergo a number of changes during the process.
Parliament’s first chamber, the Bundesrat, will also discuss the bill, although its approval is not required for the law to pass, according to the health ministry.