Cannabis legalization is getting closer: drug commissioner specifies traffic light plans
Created: 06/05/2022, 17:44
By: Andreas Schmid
The new drug commissioner Burkhard Blienert wants to promote cannabis legalization.
© Fabian Sommer/dpa/Sven Simon/Imago (Montage)
The traffic light coalition wants to legalize the recreational use of cannabis.
Experts welcome the step - but demand more.
Berlin - Actually, the Federal Drug Commissioner has received very little attention so far.
That has changed with the new occupation by the traffic light coalition.
While the CDU-led federal government drove a rather defensive drug policy, the traffic light went on the offensive.
She wants to legalize cannabis.
SPD politician Burkhard Blienert has been in charge of this since January.
The new drug commissioner is to advance the legalization plans anchored in the coalition agreement by the SPD, Greens and FDP.
A “thorough consultation process” is now to start.
Cannabis legalization: Drugs Commissioner announces "thorough process".
Blienert is planning extensive technical preparations for the planned controlled release of cannabis.
To this end, he will now start “a thorough consultation process” together with the Ministry of Health and other departments, the SPD politician told the German Press Agency.
"It's about pooling knowledge and experience, but also about addressing objections and reservations very openly."
With the coalition agreement, the federal government "agreed on a paradigm shift in drug and addiction policy," said Blienert.
Specifically: "less repression, more protection and help".
We are introducing the controlled sale of cannabis to adults for recreational use in licensed outlets.
This controls the quality, prevents the transfer of contaminated substances and guarantees the protection of minors.
Traffic light coalition agreement, page 68
Cannabis legalization: round table planned with associations
"Hardly any other drug policy issue has occupied people as much as cannabis for decades," said Blienert.
The most relevant questions on health protection, cultivation, supply chains and taxation should therefore be discussed with leading experts by autumn.
"In this way, we support the legislative process technically and politically with a good foundation." States, municipalities, associations, science and civil society should also be involved in the preparations.
In all likelihood, the German Hemp Association (DHV) will also be there, and they generally rate the plans positively.
"It is good and right to carefully discuss the details of market regulation for cannabis," says DHV Managing Director Georg Wurth to our editorial team.
“What shouldn't take that long, however, is the decriminalization of consumers.
Making the possession of a small amount of cannabis for personal use completely legal in advance is much less complicated than complete market regulation and would be done quickly.”
Cannabis clearance?
The list of federal drug commissioners
since 2022 | Burkhard Blienert (SPD) |
2019 to 2021 | Daniela Ludwig (CSU) |
2014 to 2019 | Marlene Mortler (CSU) |
2009 to 2013 | Mechthild Dyckmans (FDP) |
2005 to 2009 | Sabine Bätzing (SPD) |
2001 to 2005 | Marion Caspers-Merk (SPD) |
1998 to 2001 | Christa Nickels (Greens) |
1992 to 1998 | Edward Lintner (CSU) |
Cannabis legalization: Draft law likely at the end of 2022
But first, let's have a discussion.
Political coordination takes place primarily with the Ministry of Health and SPD Minister Karl Lauterbach.
"We at the German Hemp Association are pleased that Karl Lauterbach has finally given the go-ahead.
According to earlier statements by the Minister of Health, there was a fear that he might take the process too slowly and fail.”
According to Lauterbach, a draft law will follow after the technical talks - probably in the second half of the year.
It will probably take until 2024 before cannabis can be legally consumed in Germany. Cannabis expert Niklas Kouparanis also mentioned this date in an interview with
Merkur.de
.
Kouparanis welcomes the drug commissioner's initiative.
"Burkhard Blienert rightly decided not to tackle the legalization of cannabis as a stimulant on his own, but in dialogue with leading experts," says the expert
Merkur.de
.
“In the legal cannabis market, we need security of supply right from the start.
This will only succeed if politics and industry pull together.”
Drug commissioner: "In the end, fewer young people should consume cannabis"
Blienert also wants to include experiences from other countries such as Canada in the process.
Kouparanis warns: "We shouldn't forget that in Canada and in many US states, illegal trade has long held its own against legal trade and in some cases still does."
Blienert said it was important to him to focus on the areas of youth and health protection in the technical consultations.
"Because in the end, of course, not more, but fewer young people should consume cannabis in Germany." But he is certain that this process will create a good basis for the law that so many have been waiting for - including him.
(as with dpa material)