Recreational cannabis: Luxembourg becomes the first European country to legalize its use

While in France some 2022 presidential candidates are in favor of legalization, Luxembourg is preparing to authorize the cultivation of cannabis at home and its consumption in the private sphere.

A first in Europe.

This legalization nevertheless remains regulated.

Each household will have the right to grow four cannabis plants at home, the government said at a press conference that brought together several ministers, including those of Health, Foreign Affairs, the Interior and Justice.

The import of seeds will be possible and local production is under discussion.

"Cannabis is the most consumed drug and represents a large part of the illegal traffic", explains in the Guardian, Sam Tanson, the Luxembourg Minister of Justice before adding: "We want to start by allowing people to cultivate it at home. them.

The idea is that a consumer is not in an illegal situation if he uses cannabis, and that we do not support the entire illegal chain, from production to sale to transport, where there is a lot of suffering ”.

Luxembourg, however, maintains the ban on consuming cannabis in public, but will introduce a “light criminal procedure”, limited to a fine of 145 euros if the consumption or purchase offenses do not exceed three grams.

Reduced ambitions

This measure is part of a legislative package to fight drug-related crime.

When it was elected in 2018, the government coalition promised decriminalization or even legalization of recreational cannabis through production on national territory.

Read also France, leader in cannabis consumption in Europe

But the government of liberal Xavier Bettel has revised its ambitions downwards to manage its relations with neighboring countries, in particular with France which feared the emergence of a place of trafficking on its borders.

The legislative package of measures will be examined by Parliament early next year and could be voted on by the end of 2022.

Luxembourg thus joins Canada, Uruguay, Mexico and eleven American states which have decided to decriminalize the consumption of recreational cannabis.

In Europe, the countries most relaxed in relation to the consumption of this substance have so far been the Netherlands and Spain where tolerance allows its recreational use.