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Cannabis legalization not until 2024? Expert sees traffic lights facing major problems

2021-12-22T12:49:39.961Z


Cannabis legalization not until 2024? Expert sees traffic lights facing major problems Created: 12/22/2021, 1:35 PM From: Andreas Schmid Cannabis entrepreneur Niklas Kouparanis reports on the challenges of the planned cannabis legalization. © Fabian Sommer / dpa / Bloomwell Group The traffic light coalition wants to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. It will take some time before that


Cannabis legalization not until 2024?

Expert sees traffic lights facing major problems

Created: 12/22/2021, 1:35 PM

From: Andreas Schmid

Cannabis entrepreneur Niklas Kouparanis reports on the challenges of the planned cannabis legalization.

© Fabian Sommer / dpa / Bloomwell Group

The traffic light coalition wants to legalize the recreational use of cannabis.

It will take some time before that succeeds.

An expert explains the impending problems.

Munich - The consumption of cannabis should soon be legal in Germany.

The coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP states: "We are introducing the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for pleasure purposes in licensed shops." However, it will be some time before it is legal to smoke in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Because there are a number of problems waiting on the way to legalization, as cannabis expert Niklas Kouparanis explains in an interview with

IPPEN.MEDIA

.

One shouldn't underestimate the challenges.

"We have more than 80 million inhabitants, this will be the largest legal cannabis market in the world."

Cannabis: Experts don't expect legalization until 2024

"Cannabis legalization is a highly regulated, highly complex topic," says Kouparanis, who does not expect legalization before January 2024. In particular, Kouparanis has legal concerns. The decisive question is: "What does legalization in Germany mean for the international legal framework?" The aim of this agreement is to regulate the availability of some drugs such as cannabis. As part of the UN, Germany has committed itself to the agreement. "The UN Single Convention regulates that Germany cannot legalize the sale of cannabis."

Means: Germany would have to leave the agreement first.

Although this is basically possible, it also involves hurdles.

The traffic light coalition * would have to submit a draft law by July 1, 2022 and receive it from the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

Then the earliest possible exit would be January 1, 2023. If no draft law is submitted by the July deadline, the exit date will be extended by a further year.

According to Kouparanis, this is a very likely scenario: "I do not assume that a reasonable law can be put in place in seven months during a pandemic." Therefore, cannabis will probably only be legal in Germany from January 2024.

Cannabis legalization: are EU-wide problems looming?

Canada and Uruguay - countries where cannabis is legal - are also part of the UN treaty, but largely ignore it. Kouparanis does not expect any such action from German politics. A model like the one in Bolivia is conceivable. “There, coca leaves were legalized for indigenous people. Bolivia withdrew from the UN Convention, legalized the chewing of coca leaves and then rejoined. "

The EU aspect should also not be underestimated. Because, according to Kouparanis, a patchwork of different regulations in different countries must be prevented. There are some countries in Europe where cannabis can be used. However, the specific regulations are different. In some countries, such as Portugal or parts of Spain, consumption is decriminalized, i.e. allowed for private consumption. In the Netherlands, too, contrary to popular belief, the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis are illegal. Only distribution through coffee shops and consumption in small quantities is tolerated. Luxembourg and Malta also want to decriminalize self-cultivation and the possession of small quantities, but not legalize the entire market like Germany. Contrary to its 2018 plans, Luxembourg made a backward roll,also with reference to European law.

The problems resulting from the different regulations can be seen in the example of the USA.

Cannabis is legal in 19 states.

“You have the problem that no state borders are allowed to be crossed.

That would be similar in the EU with the Schengen area. "Uniform rules are needed, also with regard to imports, says Kouparanis -" and better early than late ".

In the event of legalization, the German market would otherwise be entirely dependent on domestic production: “Only medical cannabis may be traded internationally,” explains Georg Wurth, spokesman for the German Hemp Association.

Video: Discussion about cannabis - does legalization make sense?

Cannabis expert: The traffic light coalition must learn from past mistakes

Overall, Germany faces challenges that should not be underestimated when it comes to legalization strategy. In addition to legal aspects, it is also about logistics, says Kouparanis. The traffic light coalition should therefore also learn from previous experience with the legalization of medical cannabis. Since March 2017, cannabis has been allowed to be consumed for medicinal purposes such as pain relief for chronic pain or epilepsy. In the past four years since legalization, however, there have been major problems, says Kouparanis.

The 32-year-old from Frankfurt has built up several cannabis companies and knows about the “teething troubles of the market”, as he calls the difficulties.

His current company, the Bloomwell Group, is a leader in pharmaceutical cannabis.

It recently received $ 10 million in funding, making it the largest seed investment ever received by a European cannabis company.

Niklas Kouparanis helped build several cannabis companies and is one of the pioneers in the industry.

© Detlef Gottwald / Bloomwell Group

Cannabis expert Kouparanis calls for a round table on legalization

In order for cannabis legalization to go smoothly, a dialogue on an equal footing is needed. “We need to get all the interest groups involved in cannabis legalization around the same table.” With medical cannabis, there would have been too many communication difficulties. "The law was waved through, but doctors, pharmacies and authorities were left in the lurch." In addition, the way from the passage to the cannabis distribution was a very difficult one. “That was an absolute disaster,” says Kouparanis. “It took us four years to grow pharmaceutical cannabis in Germany.” He also cites a “complete overregulation” as the reason.

Politicians must therefore continue to deal with the issue.

“But we don't even know who will be the drug commissioner.” The CSU politician Daniela Ludwig is leaving this office, a successor has not yet been determined.

"We have Mr. Lauterbach as the new health minister, who will be responsible for drafting the law, but the drug commissioner will then be responsible for the details."

From 2019 to 2021 the drug commissioner of the federal government: The CSU politician Daniela Ludwig.

© Gregor Fischer / dpa

Cannabis Legalization: Can The Black Market Be Contained?

In terms of recreational legalization, Kouparanis expects fewer problems overall than with medical cannabis, because politicians are now also more interested in legalization. “The federal government wants to displace tax revenue and the black market.” According to a study by the economist Justus Haucup, cannabis legalization can bring Germany 4.7 billion euros in revenue and create around 27,000 legal jobs. Haucap described its findings in a detailed guest article for

IPPEN.MEDIA

.

As for the black market, curbing street sales is by no means a given. In Canada and the Netherlands, the black market continues to play an important role. "The problem in Canada was that the distribution channels weren't right," says Kouparanis. "There were no dispensaries for cannabis". In Germany, therefore, it is imperative to have a nationwide sales network including mail order, otherwise the black market will prevail over the long term.

The question of price is also decisive.

“In Canada, it is still extremely cheap to buy cannabis on the black market.

That is why it has taken two years since legalization in 2018 until sales in the legal market were able to catch up with the black market. “In the sales outlets in the country, cannabis still cost twice as much as on the black market a year after it was launched, but prices are needed Black market border.

For the Federal Republic of Germany this means: "We currently have prices of 10 euros per gram. We should be there, if not below, in order to dry up the black market."

"Cannabis legalization will not and must not happen overnight"

Ultimately, however, Kouparanis rates the impending legalization positively. A successful, i.e. smoothly running cannabis legalization in Germany could also ensure further imitators. “This will have a signal effect for other European countries. We will see cannabis legalization in other countries as well, because of course it is the only right way to go. ”However, this way seems to be a difficult one.

"Legalization will not and must not happen overnight because it is a big step that is difficult to implement," says Kouparanis.

“That's exactly why you should take your time, sit down with the right people and work out a sensible, efficient law.

Then Germany will also feel the positive effects of legalization. ”

(As) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-12-22

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