Like many territories across the world, Germany is on the way to legalizing the use of recreational cannabis for adults. Although the substance has provided American states with billions of dollars in taxes and can be extremely profitable for Germany, the European country is planning on taking a “safety first” approach that prioritizes public health and safety.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach recently revealed that the government is set on legalizing recreational cannabis and already has a draft law that is expected to be ready by the end of 2022. He stated that the legislation has been long awaited and that the government will use the safety-first principle in its efforts to legalize adult-use marijuana in the country.
Lauterbach acknowledged that the current prohibitionist and repressive ways of dealing with the controversial plant have not been successful. This was a major change in opinion as the health minister has not been a fan of cannabis legalization in the past, stating that there were potential health risks involved.
Even though he has since reversed his stance on recreational cannabis reform, Lauterbach urged lawmakers to exercise careful consideration on key provisions of the draft law regarding safety. This includes protecting minors from cannabis marketing, advertising and access as well as provisions on tax and tax law and the criminal code. He especially stressed protection for minors, stating that while cannabis can have mild effects on adults, it is dangerous for children and can destroy their lives.
The country’s current three-party coalition government is solidly behind legalizing the adult use of cannabis. The coalition of the Green Party, Social Democrats (SPD) and Free Democrats (FDP) announced that it was considering legalizing recreational marijuana even before it took over.
For years, the Green Party and FDP urged the government to launch a legal and controlled market for cannabis with a focus on tight regulation and protecting minors. Now in power, the coalition is moving forward with its plans to legalize recreational marijuana. If the draft law is passed, it will be the third European country after the Netherlands and Luxembourg to allow adult-use cannabis.
Despite these comments by the German health minister, there are still plenty of questions about the regulations that will govern the country’s recreational cannabis industry. For instance, there is no information on whether edibles and vapes will be allowed now or in the future. The government has also failed to provide any information on cannabis taxes or regulatory restrictions, or whether Germans would be allowed to produce cannabis locally or look oversees for suppliers such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC).
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