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Cannabis legalization: experts warn - doctor brings completely new solution into play

2022-01-19T05:01:27.545Z


Cannabis legalization: experts warn - doctor brings completely new solution into play Created: 01/19/2022 05:49 am By: Josef Ametsbichler, Max Wochinger Soon also in Germany? A man smokes a joint with marijuana in a Dutch coffee shop. © dpa The new traffic light coalition plans to legalize cannabis for adults. An addiction doctor, a drug prevention expert and a police officer were asked about


Cannabis legalization: experts warn - doctor brings completely new solution into play

Created: 01/19/2022 05:49 am

By: Josef Ametsbichler, Max Wochinger

Soon also in Germany?

A man smokes a joint with marijuana in a Dutch coffee shop.

© dpa

The new traffic light coalition plans to legalize cannabis for adults.

An addiction doctor, a drug prevention expert and a police officer were asked about the possible consequences.

County

– In 2017, cannabis was legalized for medicinal purposes.

Now the traffic light coalition are planning to sell hashish and marijuana for recreational purposes.

Cannabis is not yet legal: it plays the leading role in the drug statistics of the police and judiciary.

For example, the Poing Police Inspectorate reports that more than half of the relevant offenses can be traced back to dealing with cannabis.

Is it time to stop punishing this or does the state have to protect its citizens from the dangers of the popular drug?

Cannabis legalization: Doctor says - "Current legislation not satisfactory"

“I have worked in addiction medicine for 20 years.

Cannabis can induce psychosis.

Young patients who come to us are often completely confused and have hallucinations or delusions.

Cannabis can be addictive.

However, the current legislation is not satisfactory.

The basic principles of addiction treatment should be incorporated into the law.

In addiction therapy it is quite evident that there is no point in forcing opinions on patients.

Prof. Ulrich Zimmermann © Gerald Förtsch

Rather, the goal of therapy is for people to understand for themselves that drugs are bad for them. Therefore, addiction rules must be understandable. Among young people, for example, it's completely clear today: If you've been drinking, you don't drive a car. You don't need the police to understand. This is the goal that should also be achieved with cannabis.

Only: young people know little about cannabis.

Therefore consumption should be made dependent on knowledge.

If cannabis is to be sold legally, then only to adults with a cannabis driver's license.

Before consumers can buy cannabis from licensed outlets, they should answer five questions.

For example: Is it true that you shouldn't smoke weed and drive a car?

Are young people at risk differently than adults?

If the questions are answered correctly, one could get a QR code.

With that comes the cannabis.

Cannabis legalization in Germany: "Consumption should be made dependent on knowledge"

However, it may be handed in at the earliest from the age of 21, only then is brain development complete.

The adolescent brain is much more sensitive to drugs than that of adults.

With legalization, the quality of cannabis can also be controlled.

In the last five to ten years, the consumption of so-called synthetic cannabinoids has increased.

The stuff is much more brutal, it leads to psychosis more often.

It is almost indistinguishable from regular cannabis.”

Ulrich Zimmermann is a professor and chief physician at the clinic for addiction medicine and psychotherapy at the kbo Isar-Amper-Klinikum in Haar.

Cannabis legalization: Addiction officer makes it clear - "There is no low-risk consumption"

“With our offers, we aim to ensure that as few people as possible consume an addictive substance and that all those who do not consume are encouraged in their decision not to take cannabis.

A direct link between legislative changes and cannabis use is generally difficult to prove.

What would happen in Germany after legalization can hardly be concluded from data from other countries, also because it is still unclear which rules will apply.

However, we can use the legalization debate as an opportunity to clarify.

Christin Strell © District Office

In general, it can be said that no matter what the substance is - whether it is available legally or illegally - there is no such thing as low-risk consumption.

Results of the CaPRis study show, for example, that regular and frequent cannabis consumption can impair brain performance and memory in particular.

A lower level of educational success compared to peers who do not use it is particularly evident when young people have been consuming a lot of cannabis for years and have started to do so before the age of 15.

Cannabis legalization: A focus on youth and adult prevention

When it comes to the legalization issue, I don't think there's just black or white, there are many shades of gray in between.

If legalization actually comes, it must be accompanied by accompanying measures and an expansion of the help system - especially for consumers who have already gotten into problems because of their consumption.

Prevention continues to be my focus, especially in the case of adolescents and young adults.

The most important thing here is to start a conversation and not to become taboo.

The promotion of life skills from primary school age turns children and young people into strong, resilient people who make good decisions for themselves and their lives.”

Christin Strell is a specialist in addiction prevention at the Ebersberg health department

Cannabis legalization: Police officer says - "Could lower the inhibition threshold for consumption"

"It's hard to talk about unlaid eggs.

However, I see cannabis as a health hazard, especially when mixed with alcohol, and its effects are incalculable.

Legalization could lower the inhibition threshold for consumption, along the lines of: It's not that bad.

We will have to adapt to any new regulations that affect the topic in general.

But I very much hope that the THC limits for road traffic will not be shaken.

I'm often surprised that this doesn't happen anymore.

The breakdown of the active substance in the blood is much more difficult to assess than that of alcohol.

Helmut Hintereder © Police

Of course, legalization for adults would initially mean fewer crimes.

However, when it comes to alcohol, we see that young adults repeatedly offer access to young people from their environment.

Cannabis doesn't have to be a gateway drug for heavier consumption, but it can be.

I do not allow myself to judge what role legalization would play.

The penalties for first-time offenses involving personal consumption are not high and many proceedings are being discontinued.

People need to know what risks they are taking.

That’s why we not only chase after violations, but also initiate prevention offers.”

Helmut Hintereder is a senior police officer and head of the Poing Police Inspectorate

You can read more news from the Ebersberg region here.

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter. 

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-01-19

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