Cannabis could be legalized under a new federal government.
The police are critical of the traffic light explorers' plans, while the Hemp Association has a different opinion.
Berlin - The explorations around the next federal government are ongoing.
SPD, Greens and FDP are sounding out a traffic light coalition.
While there is still disagreement in some areas, there are issues where the parties are close together.
For example with the planned legalization of cannabis.
According to the current drug report by the federal government, cannabis is the most widely traded and consumed drug in Germany, accounting for around two thirds of all drug offenses.
Nevertheless, according to the traffic light probes, there are good reasons for loosening the local drug policy.
Traffic light coalition: SPD, Greens and FDP want cannabis legalization
"The current ban on cannabis causes more problems than it solves," says the Greens' election manifesto. 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. Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock argues that police officers and public prosecutors are extremely overburdened. She spoke of a massive waste of time in the election campaign.
The FDP assesses the issue in a similar way. "We are committed to allowing ownership and consumption for people of legal age," wrote the Free Democrats in their manifesto for the federal election. The liberals, 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 SPD wants to at least try out regulated cannabis distribution to adults “in model projects of federal states and municipalities”.
Cannabis legalization through a traffic light does not seem unlikely.
The Greens and FDP have already positioned themselves clearly - also on TV.
Possibly also to score points with younger voters.
The SPD is acting less aggressively, but will probably not stand in the way of legalization.
Parts of the police get these plans.
Cannabis legalization: police warn - "mustn't gloss over joints"
Police unions warn against legalizing cannabis. The federal chairman of the police union (GdP), Oliver Malchow, told the
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung
that there was no point in opening the door to another "dangerous and often played down" drug in addition to the legal but dangerous alcohol. "It has to be an end to glossing over the joint," he said. The consumption of cannabis can lead to considerable health problems and social conflicts, especially among young people.
The chairman of the German Police Union, Rainer Wendt, also fears fatal consequences for road traffic.
“If stoned people soon participate in road traffic, we will have a problem.” Even now, accidents with innocent injured people are occurring again and again due to cannabis consumption;
the control by the police is completely inadequate.
Cannabis is not only a dangerous gateway drug, but also a danger, especially for young people, because of the uncontrollable nature of its composition, said Wendt.
Cannabis: police statements irritate - "that speaks for legalization, not against"
Georg Wurth, head of the Hemp Association, rated Wendt's statements
as "downright absurd" when
asked
by
Merkur.de
.
“Cannabis has long since arrived in the middle of German society, the thesis of cannabis as a gateway drug has long been scientifically refuted, and above all: the 'uncontrollability of the composition', of which he warns, speaks in favor of legalization, not against it.
The point is to curb such dangers of the black market by finally regulating cannabis. "
Katharina Schulze, the head of the Greens parliamentary group in the Bavarian state parliament, expressed a similar opinion: "Hm, the DPolG is already clear that a cannabis control law will remedy the situation?" Wrote Schulze on Twitter.
"This means that there are rules for cultivation, ownership, trade and consumption, including the protection of minors."
+
Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Schulze.
© Tobias Hase / dpa / archive image
Cannabis legalization: Hemp Association sees “crisis of meaning” in the police
The German Hemp Association continues to campaign for legalization and cannot understand the skepticism of the police.
“The legalization of cannabis leads to a crisis of meaning in parts of the police,” says Wurth.
“This is ultimately followed by the admission that the police failed in their mission to keep cannabis out of society.
It's hard to endure when you have been a drug investigator for decades and are now supposed to recognize that this work has caused damage rather than protecting young people. "
The actually cannabis-critical CSU Federal Drug Commissioner Daniela Ludwig said before the federal election: “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 the relief of the police and the judiciary. “How the subject is dealt with in the future depends in particular on the course of the exploratory talks.
(as)
List of rubric lists: © Daniel Karmann / dpa
