As of: February 22, 2024, 6:52 p.m
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The CDU/CSU is considered a major critic of the cannabis law.
Now the Senior Citizens' Union is also getting involved and writing to the Chancellor.
Shortly before the vote in the Bundestag, the cannabis debate is entering its final major round.
Legalization advocates praise the law as a milestone in more modern drug policy.
Critics see the protection of minors at risk and an additional burden on the authorities.
The arguments on both sides have actually been known for a long time.
Nevertheless, they never tire of emphasizing their position – in letters.
Senior Citizens' Union: "The traffic light coalition's draft law shows a frightening lack of reality"
Criticism comes primarily from the CDU/CSU.
The Seniors' Union, an organization within the CDU/CSU that represents the interests of the older generation, is now also joining the debate.
The CDU politician Fred-Holger Ludwig, chairman of the senior citizens' union, wrote a letter to Chancellor Olaf Scholz about this.
The letter is available exclusively to
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
“The traffic light coalition’s draft law shows a frightening lack of reality,” it says.
The letter continues: “The claim that legalization would strengthen the protection of minors is simply false.
On the contrary, it would make it easier for minors to access cannabis and target the black market specifically at this vulnerable group.” Ludwig, himself a doctor, also points out the consequences for young adults and the brain maturity that has not yet been completed by the age of 25.
“Numerous studies show the negative effects of cannabis on memory, learning ability, attention and mental health,” it continues.
“Intensive cannabis use can have serious consequences such as psychotic symptoms, depressive disorders and increased susceptibility to addiction.”
Letter to Olaf Scholz: The Senior Citizens' Union criticizes the traffic light's cannabis plans.
© Britta Pedersen/dpa//Imago
Cannabis experts disagree with the Senior Citizens' Union
In addition, experiences from other countries show that a new regulation of cannabis policy “leads to an increase in consumption, overall more damage to health and a reduced perception of risk,” it continues.
Legalization would not curb the black market, but rather strengthen it.
Several scientists see it differently.
In an open letter from around 30 doctors, professors, lawyers and addiction researchers it says: “Experiences from other countries show that moderate new regulation of cannabis leads to better health and improved help.” In addition, the black market would continue with a view to Studies “that cannabis-related health effects are lower in countries with legalization than in countries with cannabis prohibition”.
The signatories appeal to the Bundestag to approve the law.
We must “end the decades-long injustice of criminalizing people for dealing with a substance.”
The letter went to the traffic light factions and the faction and group leaders of the other democratic parties, explained the initiator of the letter, Bernd Werse, head of the Center for Drug Research at the University of Frankfurt.
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SPD letters on the cannabis law: Domestic politicians attack the Lauterbach plan
And then there are the letters within the SPD, which are also available to our editorial team.
In a letter from parliamentary group deputy Dagmar Schmidt and health policy spokeswoman Heike Baehrens to the parliamentary group, the MPs advocated support for the law.
Schmidt and Behrens advocate a “paradigm change in cannabis policy” and say: “Protecting the health of everyone, but especially the protection of children and young people, is the central goal of the law and has the highest priority in implementation.
With the law we want to curb the black market, end the criminalization of users with all the negative consequences for them, control the quality of cannabis and prevent the distribution of contaminated substances.”
Headwind for Health Minister Karl Lauterbach comes from the SPD domestic politicians Sebastian Fiedler and Sebastian Hartmann.
They wrote in a letter: “Important goals of a modern drug policy, such as the fight against organized crime, the relief of the regulatory, police and judicial authorities or the improvement of the protection of minors, are not being achieved.” They therefore reject the law and will probably also vote “no”: “We can’t beat our heads against the wall here.”
With this criticism, Fiedler and Hartmann are in the clear minority within the traffic light.
Acceptance of the law is considered certain.