The federal government has allowed cannabis consumption, Bavaria is trying to make it as difficult as possible or to ban it again through its own regulations.
Erding/Dorfen - That's why a ban on weed at folk festivals is considered safe. The state government also encourages municipalities to be as restrictive as possible.
In an interview with our newspaper, Erding's mayor Max Gotz (CSU) advocates “always carefully weighing up bans and not issuing them across the board”. But he is convinced that the joint at the autumn festival is like the hard alcoholic beverages that were banned years ago: “They are not really suitable there.”
Gotz believes that a ban on weed at folk festivals makes sense in principle, “because there are always children and young people there.” But he also believes a ban is appropriate where many people come together. He explicitly mentions the city park and the Kronthaler Weiher recreation area. “I can imagine that we will adapt the usage regulations and include cannabis consumption,” says Gotz. It should not be forgotten that people who then have to passively smoke weed also need to be protected. And he also thinks of the neighbors of restaurants, “where there is always trouble because of noise and smoke.”
And what about the old town festival, Sinnflut etc.? Here too, Gotz points out that children and young people are there - which prohibits the joint per se. “I would like to sit down with the organizers,” says Gotz. For him, the Sinnflut cultural festival is a special case, “because I can imagine that the desire for approval is very great here because of the relaxed nature.” This needs to be discussed, including within a department of individual areas. Then Gotz wants to be talked to.
He keeps an eye on possible bans at all major events, such as the recent farmer's wedding in Altenerding. This could be regulated through general orders such as the ban on schnapps during carnival in the old town.
His Dorfen colleague Heinz Grundner (CSU) makes no secret of the fact that “I think the new legalization law is wrong”. But now as a municipality you also have to think about what restrictions you will apply. “If the state generally bans consumption at folk festivals, I would like to thank you because it makes the decision for us on site.” Like Gotz, he believes strict rules are appropriate where many people come together in public places. In Dorfen, for example, the Hemadlenzn parade could be subject to a weed ban.
“But we also have to be clear: a ban is only as effective as it can be controlled,” says Grundner. And that's the problem: "The police already have enough to do, I can't imagine that they have much capacity to enforce a cannabis ban. And my public order office certainly doesn’t have the capacity.” Gotz also sees his public order office as unable to hunt down stoners. Grundner is also concerned that “every ban promotes informing.”
What is certain is that municipalities will use one option to ban cannabis: in swimming pools and other leisure facilities. Both town hall heads emphasize that they now want to wait for the implementing regulations. ham