Drug policy
Cannabis legalization: coalition factions settle dispute
Cannabis flowers lie in a glass. From April 1st, adults will be allowed to own a certain amount of cannabis and grow it themselves. photo
© Lino Mirgeler/dpa
It’s been a long wait, now it could finally be happening soon. The traffic light coalition agrees: Cannabis should be legalized. But there are still a few hurdles ahead.
The traffic light coalition has its disagreements with the planned legalization of Cannabis cleared out. The law could come on April 1st, the deputy parliamentary group leaders Konstantin Kuhle (FDP), Maria Klein-Schmeink (Greens) and Dagmar Schmidt (SPD) told the German Press Agency in Berlin. However, the law must first pass through the Bundestag. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had named the week from February 19th to 23rd for the law to be passed in parliament. The Federal Council also still has to deal with the plans.
The three parliamentary group vice-presidents said: “The regulations are a real milestone for a modern drug policy that strengthens prevention and improves health, child and youth protection.” In addition, consumers would be decriminalized and the black market would be effectively combated. The effects of the law on child and youth protection as well as on organized crime should be evaluated “in a timely manner,” as it was said. The expertise of the Federal Criminal Police Office will also be included.
According to coalition circles, no significant changes were made to the content of the plans. The SPD, Greens and FDP had already agreed in November to remove cannabis from the list of banned substances in the Narcotics Act. Home cultivation and possession of certain amounts of the drug will be permitted for adults from April 1, 2024. Clubs for collective cultivation should be possible on July 1st. Legalization is a project from the traffic light coalition agreement. However, domestic politicians from the SPD in particular had expressed concerns in January as to why the law could not yet be passed in the Bundestag.