Drug policy
Cannabis legalization is likely to be postponed
The draft law proposes to remove cannabis from the list of prohibited substances in the Narcotics Act. photo
© Annette Riedl/dpa
The rush will have to wait: The law legalizing cannabis for adults is expected to be passed in the Bundestag this year. But the drug will not be released until 2024.
The legalization of… originally planned for the turn of the year Cannabis is likely to shift. The German Press Agency learned this from circles in the traffic light factions.
Accordingly, it is planned to pass the law in the Bundestag in the last week of the year between December 13th and 15th. Afterwards, it is still the Federal Council’s turn and the deadlines are too tight for the last Federal Council meeting of the year on December 15th, it was said.
Although the plans do not require approval in the state chamber, it must discuss them, like any other law. The next Federal Council meeting will be on February 2, 2024. It would only come into force afterwards. In traffic light circles, April 1st was mentioned as a possible date.
Cannabis legalization, a controversial topic
The draft law proposes to remove cannabis from the list of prohibited substances in the Narcotics Act. Adults aged 18 and over should be allowed to possess 25 grams. A maximum of three plants should be allowed to be grown privately. In cannabis clubs, club members should be allowed to grow the drug together and distribute it to each other.
At an expert hearing in the Bundestag, it became clear once again how controversial the topic is. Medical associations, police unions and the German Association of Judges had made it clear their rejection of the release, while addiction experts and reform-oriented lawyers had spoken of the need for decriminalization.
The Bundestag meets again at the end of November before its last week of sessions in December. This plenary week is reserved for budget discussions. Other laws are generally not on the agenda during budget weeks.