Cannabis clearance yes or no?
"Hash is smoked in all classes"
Created: 2022-02-04 09:50
By: Tobias Gehre
A man smokes a joint: If the traffic light coalition has its way, it will soon be legal.
© Symbolic photo: dpa
The traffic light coalition wants to legalize cannabis.
In Bavaria, too, there would then be freely sold marijuana.
However, many questions remain unanswered.
District
– Some only want to consume a stimulant, others see it as a dangerous drug.
Dealing with cannabis has been controversial for decades.
But now more and more countries are giving up criminal prosecution and legalizing acquisition and possession.
What was unthinkable under a conservative government in Germany over the past 16 years should now also happen in Germany under the Red-Green-Yellow government.
Cannabis clearance: end criminalization
For the P6 Neo team, which offers former heroin addicts a substitution with the substitute substance methadone, this step is overdue.
The contact and support center for alcoholics, heroin addicts and other addicts in Fürstenfeldbruck has years of experience in working with drug users.
Social pedagogue Lothar Kapfer criticizes above all the criminalization of cannabis consumers.
"For many people, that slammed doors early on," says the 57-year-old.
Their paths to professional life were blocked.
In Bavaria in particular, politics relies far too much on repression.
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Kapfer does not see that marijuana and hashish are gateway drugs.
"It's not the case that you automatically go from cannabis to heroin," says the social worker.
The social background also plays no role in the consumption of the drug.
"Hash is smoked in all classes."
Cannabis legalization: risk of psychosis increases with marijuana use
Of course, cannabis also carries a certain risk - for example for a drug-induced psychosis.
This danger exists above all with very young consumers.
However, the social worker considers alcohol to be many times more dangerous.
Kapfer also sees the legalization of marijuana and hashish as an opportunity to better protect children and young people.
The 57-year-old believes there is better social control when there is an allowed substance.
Officially, cannabis should only be sold to adults.
Thomas Benkert is already doing this – but only with a doctor's prescription.
Patients regularly come to his pharmacy in Mammendorf to pick up the plant as a medicine.
Soon, however, customers could also come who do not want to use the herb to treat an ailment, but rather as a stimulant.
Benkert, who is also President of the Federal Chamber of Pharmacists, can well imagine offering marijuana in his branches.
Cannabis sale in the pharmacy?
In general, he sees pharmacies as suitable points of sale.
Because no matter what a possible legalization will look like in detail - there will be a need for advice on the effect and possible side effects when it is handed over.
And pharmacies are best suited for that.
Selling to pharmacies would only make sense if there were no other sales outlets, says Benkert.
The pharmacies, with their high standards and trained employees, could probably not keep up with these in terms of price.
"We wouldn't make it through this competition."
Cannabis clearance to curb black market
The Bundestag must determine the exact rules for the fee.
The Greens MP Beate Walter-Rosenheimer, who is responsible for the district, will also be there.
Your party has long campaigned for an end to cannabis prohibition.
"It is consumed - whether it is legal or illegal," says Walter-Rosenheimer.
Legalization gives you significantly more control, for example over quality.
The deputy is convinced of that.
In addition, the black market can be curbed and crime reduced.
A change in the law should be designed in such a way that it applies throughout Germany – including Bavaria.
"It should not be able to be undermined by a country," said the Green MP.
The legislative process should be initiated this year.
At the moment, however, fighting the pandemic has priority.
Cannabis legalization of the traffic light coalition: many unanswered questions
The advocates of legalization repeatedly state that this would also relieve the police and judiciary.
But it's not that easy, warns Winfried Nassl, deputy head of the Olching police station.
Too many questions are still unanswered.
"We don't even know yet who can buy which products and under what conditions," says Naßl.
So, is passing on legally purchased marijuana still a criminal offense?
How much can an individual own?
Can he grow it himself?
Until these questions are answered, it is difficult to assess whether the police will really be relieved and have more time for other matters.
Cannabis clearance: No relief for courts
Judge Johann Steigmayer from the Brucker district court sees it similarly.
It depends on the form of the law.
Total impunity could actually lead to fewer cases ending up in court.
However, if possession of cannabis becomes an offence, it could mean even more work.
You can defend yourself against this in court.
Steigmayer does not expect the jurisdiction to be relieved.
Reason: If a court suddenly had fewer cases, judge positions would be withdrawn.
"You can't look that fast," says Steigmayer.
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