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Will cannabis become a coalition issue? Baerbock calls for release "as with alcohol" - Union blocks

2021-08-27T14:56:18.216Z


Annalena Baerbock is in favor of the controlled release of cannabis - and not alone with this statement. The CDU / CSU continues to block. The drug policy should still be adjusted.


Annalena Baerbock is in favor of the controlled release of cannabis - and not alone with this statement.

The CDU / CSU continues to block.

The drug policy should still be adjusted.

Berlin - Narcotics crime in Germany has recently increased further.

In 2020, 365,753 drug offenses were registered nationwide, 1.7 percent more than in the previous year, according to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office.

The number of drug trafficking and drug offenses increased for the tenth consecutive year.

Cannabis remains the most trafficked and consumed drug, accounting for around two thirds of all drug offenses.

Nevertheless, there are good reasons for legalization, say the Greens, among others.

Cannabis: Baerbock demands controlled release - "just like you do with alcohol"

Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock * has spoken out in favor of a controlled release of cannabis. “Yes, we want to release cannabis, of course controlled, just like you do with alcohol,” Baerbock said recently at a campaign event. She justified this with the abundance of cannabis proceedings in the judiciary, which would later be discontinued anyway.

Police officers and public prosecutors are extremely overloaded, said Baerbock.

She spoke of a massive waste of time.

That is why cannabis must be released in a controlled manner for safety reasons alone.

In the election manifesto of the Greens it says: "The current ban on cannabis causes more problems than it solves." The party is calling for a cannabis control law to regulate consumption.

There should be a regulated sale in licensed specialist shops in order to be able to "pull the ground off the black market".

The supply of medical cannabis should continue to be promoted.

Bundestag election: Greens, SPD, FDP and left want to legalize cannabis

The Greens are not alone in this position. The SPD, FDP and the Left also want to change the current drug policy. "Like alcohol, cannabis is also a social reality," writes the SPD, for example, arguing that the current regulations are contrary to effective addiction prevention and the protection of minors. The Social Democrats want to test the regulated distribution of cannabis to adults “in model projects of the federal states and municipalities”.

"We are committed to allowing ownership and consumption for people of legal age," explains the FDP in its election manifesto for the federal election.

The Free Democrats, who focus on the economy, justify this with tax advantages, among other things: "If cannabis is taxed like cigarettes, up to one billion euros can be earned annually." The money raised should be used for prevention and addiction counseling.

The Left Party is also campaigning for legalization and wants to "create a primarily non-commercial source of supply and allow ownership and cultivation for personal use".

On the left, the legalization of cannabis occupies the largest frame of all parties.

Bundestag election: AfD and CDU / CSU reject cannabis legalization

The AfD wants to limit the use of cannabis exclusively to the medical sector. "We advocate the expansion of addiction psychiatric care for a permanent abstinence from drugs." In the meantime, the word "cannabis" does not appear once in the election manifesto of the CDU / CSU. However, it says: "We reject the legalization of illegal drugs." The Union is fundamentally a thorn in the side of the Union, as has been observed in recent years.

The CSU has held the office of drug commissioner since 2014.

First in the person of today's MEP Marlene Mortler and since 2019 by the Upper Bavarian Daniela Ludwig.

Neither of them showed any great willingness to reform Germany's drug policy - neither did their predecessors in the FDP, SPD and Greens.

Mortler made the statement “Cannabis is forbidden because it is an illegal drug”, Ludwig argued “Cannabis is not broccoli”.

This strict veto course caused criticism not only in the opposition, in a current comment by the

Frankfurter Rundschau

* it is said: “The SPD, Greens, FDP and Left are calling for the legalization of cannabis in their election programs.

It is time for the Union to get to grips with the reality of cannabis. "

+

Daniela Ludwig has been the Federal Drug Commissioner since September 2019.

The CSU politician is running for the Bundestag in the Upper Bavarian constituency of Rosenheim.

© Gregor Fischer / dpa

Cannabis: Daniela Ludwig calls for a nationwide six-gram upper limit

Cannabis is still not legalized in the Union. However, there could still be changes in drug policy. Ludwig is in favor of at least not prosecuting the possession of small quantities uniformly in Germany, but classifying it as an administrative offense. This would only mean fines, but no more imprisonment. "In my opinion, a limit of six grams would be acceptable - nationwide," said the CSU politician to the

editorial network in Germany

. So far, the limit values ​​have varied significantly depending on the federal state.

As in Portugal, consumers should also be able to choose whether to pay a fine or undergo addiction counseling, said Ludwig. "It is clear that cannabis is not as dangerous as cocaine or heroin - it is also correct that it must be about different, better sanctions and about relieving the police and the judiciary." Therefore, she wants a change. She recommended to her own party to make compromises with possible coalition partners on the subject of cannabis after the federal election *. It is not unlikely that the issue will play a role in the exploratory talks, since at least one party will be involved in the government that wants to change drug policy. Although the parties certainly do not prioritize the legalization of cannabis too high. Means: If compromises have to be made,then more in drug policy than tax or pension policy.

In order for the Union to take part in these talks, it must first recover from the currently poor survey results *. The long-standing Chancellor Party has lost its leadership position among the opinion polls. It is not clear how many cannabis users were involved in the current surveys. One thing is certain, however: With the Union in opposition, the legalization of cannabis would at least not become less likely.

(as) * Merkur.de, like fr.de, is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-08-27

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