- The government of Germany has set the course for the legal sale of marijuana and hashish.
- According to the plans of the traffic light coalition, cannabis and the active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will no longer be legally classified as narcotics in Germany.
- It is still unclear whether there will actually be a concrete draft law.
“Today, the federal cabinet decided on key points for the controlled sale of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes,” said German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in Berlin. In concrete terms, the cornerstones adopted by the federal government enable the purchase and possession of 20 to 30 grams of cannabis for personal consumption. The purchase should be made in licensed stores. According to Lauterbach, the product is to be produced in Germany and controlled by the state.
The aim of the legalization is improved youth and health protection as well as curbing the black market. Advertising for cannabis products should be banned. In addition, part of the tax on cannabis should be used for education.
The EU Commission should examine plans
International and European legal rules for dealing with cannabis could stand in the way of legalization in Germany. Therefore, the EU Commission in Brussels should now examine whether the plans are compatible with international law. If the vote is positive, Lauterbach expects a draft law in the first quarter of 2023. The German parties SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed in their coalition agreement to introduce “the controlled sale of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops”.
Cannabis products with a THC content of more than one percent are prohibited in Switzerland. If the police catch adults consuming cannabis, they can issue a fine of up to CHF 100. Possession of up to ten grams for personal consumption is not punishable. However, the goods can be confiscated and destroyed.
Pilot tests planned in Switzerland
According to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), frequent consumption over a long period of time is particularly problematic. With the amended Narcotics Act of May 15, 2021, however, the federal government is enabling pilot tests in which cannabis can be legally obtained for recreational purposes. They should provide scientific knowledge for future regulation.
A corresponding trial called “Weed Care” has been running in Basel-Stadt since September 2022. Adults can take part Basel residents who are already using drug hemp. A study is also planned in the city of Zurich to investigate the regulated sale of cannabis. The trial is scheduled to start in the first half of 2023.