As of: April 4, 2024, 5:43 p.m
By: Michaele Heske
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Legalization from the age of 24 would have been better. Thomas Pölsterl, head of Prop eV Ready for the new era: Wenzel Cerveny runs one of his eleven hemp shops in Erding and has his plants in a special hemp cultivation cabinet. For us, a gram costs three euros. On the street it's 10 to 20 euros depending on the quality. Wenzel Cerveny, owner of eleven hemp shops. Distribution to minors remains prohibited and will be consistently pursued. Reinhard Kolb from the Upper Bavaria Police Headquarters © IMAGO/Wolfgang Maria Weber
After the legalization of cannabis, everyone directly and indirectly involved in the Erding district is assessing the possibilities and risks. The opinions of addiction counselling, politicians, police and retailers vary widely.
District – O'kifft is! What Hans Söllner sang about in the 1980s (“Mei Voda hod an Marijuanabam”) could now come true. Or not? Marijuana has been partially legalized since April 1st, albeit subject to numerous requirements. This is intended to curb uncontrolled trade on the black market. But it will still be months before consumers in Erding and the surrounding area can actually get their hands on the substance legally.
“Alcohol has always been allowed – despite known health risks,” says Thomas Pölsterl, head of the psychosocial advice and treatment center Prop eV in Erding. Consuming cannabis is not nearly as unhealthy, and there are hardly any dependencies, says the qualified psychologist. “Whether it’s beer, schnapps or weed – the dose makes the poison.”
The addiction counselor adds: “We expressly welcome the new law.” It is an overdue step that involves the decriminalization of consumers. “Reality has overtaken law enforcement,” says Pölsterl. But he also admits: “Legalization from the age of 24 would have been better.”
Young people and adolescents in particular are much more at risk from smoking weed than adults. Constant “flooding” with THC disrupts the maturation processes in the brain and they risk a reduction in their mental performance.
“We must not indulge in the illusion that there are good or bad drugs,” warns Dorfen SPD city councilor Seppo Schmid. However, the drug policy as it has been handled so far has not worked: “Young people are doing everything they can to ensure they don’t get caught with marijuana – but if you deal with it openly now, you can intervene early,” believes the qualified geographer and managing director of the Johanniscafé in Dorfen.
The removal of taboos from cannabis offers an opportunity for prevention, says Schmid, who fully supports the law of his comrade Karl Lauterbach. A special attitude to life, as suggested by alcohol advertising, should not even arise when smoking joints: “The aim is to dry up the black market.” He sees a good opportunity for this in the so-called “Cannabis Social Clubs”, business models that are different when the dealers weren't focused on making a profit.
Wenzel Cerveny, owner of a chain of eleven hemp shops, runs a branch on Lange Zeile in Erding. Here he currently offers teas, oils, cookies and clothing - all THC-free products without any intoxicating effects. But that is set to change in the coming months. Cerveny founded a cultivation club in Aschheim near Munich. Every adult person has been allowed to grow three plants since April 1st. There are already seeds and cuttings here. However, it takes some time until the plants are ready to harvest.
Club members, many of whom come from Erding and consume for medical reasons, pay a monthly fee of 150 euros. “For us, a gram costs three euros. On the street it's ten to 20 euros, depending on the quality." As soon as this "megastore" has established itself "and everyone sees that things are running smoothly there," says Cerveny, he wants to open the next club in Erding.
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Adults are now allowed to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis and weed in public in certain places, but of course not everywhere. Cannabis consumption is prohibited within a radius of 100 meters around schools, daycare centers, playgrounds and public sports facilities. According to the law, smoking weed is not allowed in pedestrian zones between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
For the police, the main focus is on protecting children and young people. “The distribution of cannabis to minors remains prohibited and will be consistently pursued,” explains Reinhard Kolb, First Police Chief Inspector at the Upper Bavaria North Police Headquarters. “Administrative offenses that the police identify in connection with cannabis consumption are prosecuted in coordination with the responsible local district administrative authority.”
Press spokesman Kolb said we will continue to take consistent action against the illegal trade in cannabis and crimes related to it. “Something should move there too,” hopes a consumer from Dorfen who does not want to give his name. “We still have to get the weed from the dealer at the moment.”