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Cannabis legalization debate: Young liberals call for major drug reform

2021-10-13T00:14:58.616Z


Should a possible traffic light coalition legalize cannabis? SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach experienced a change of heart - and now supports this. The Young Liberals want to go even further.


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A man smokes a joint

Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach has spoken out in favor of legalizing cannabis in a possible coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP. "For years I refused to legalize cannabis," Lauterbach told the Rheinische Post. In the meantime, as a doctor, he has come to a different conclusion: “More and more often, new types of heroin that can be smoked are added to illegally sold street cannabis. This will quickly drive cannabis users into a heroin addiction. "

This phenomenon is new and changes the situation, Lauterbach told the newspaper.

Legalizing cannabis would put a stop to the contaminated hash trade.

"I am therefore in favor of us formulating a passage on the legal and controlled distribution of cannabis to adults in a possible coalition agreement with the Greens and the FDP," said Lauterbach.

Young Liberals: "The immense resources that are tied up in the police and judiciary are better used in a different way."

If the young liberals have their way, that doesn't stop there.

The youth organization of the FDP calls for an even more far-reaching drug reform.

"Instead of the lowest common denominator, we now need major reforms that go far beyond the legalization of cannabis," said the head of the Young Liberals, Jens Teutrine, of the "Rheinische Post".

"The prohibition, criminalization and stigmatization of cannabis has failed." The pandemic had shown that "the state should take care of more important things than the prosecution of harmless stoners."

Teutrine continues: "In licensed specialty stores, adults should be able to purchase cannabis freely." Only complete legalization of cannabis and no model projects would ensure the necessary quality standards and the protection of minors.

"The immense resources that are tied up in the police and judiciary are better used differently," said Teutrine.

The FDP and the Greens are in favor of legalizing cannabis and "selling it in licensed specialist shops".

The SPD advocates a "regulated charge" to adults in model projects.

Police unions warn against cannabis legalization

Only the day before, police unions had warned the negotiators of a coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP 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 trivialized" drug in addition to legal but dangerous alcohol. "

The chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG), Rainer Wendt, told the newspaper that cannabis is not only a dangerous gateway drug, but also a danger, especially for young people, because its composition cannot be controlled.

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Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-10-13

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