In late October, the German government approved plans to legalize marijuana within the country’s borders. The legislation would have allowed individuals aged 18 years and older to purchase cannabis from federally licensed cannabis stores and pharmacies, possess up to 20 grams of cannabis flower and grow up to three plants at home for recreational use.
At the time, officials said that the legislation’s passage depended on whether the European Commission would approve the bill. Germany’s deference to European and international bodies meant that the bill had to be in line with European and international policy before the Federal Cabinet could push forward with legalization.
However, months after Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced the bill’s approval, the German government still hasn’t submitted it to the European Union for review and approval. According to a statement from Lauterbach, the legislation is “currently being drafted” by the federal authorities. He noted that lawmakers have to address significant operational and legal questions surrounding the implementation of a legal cannabis market, and this requires time and coordination between the affected ministries.
It is unlikely that German lawmakers will finish drafting the bill and submit it to the European Union in time for legalization in 2024.
On top of allowing cannabis consumption, the bill would also have suspended or closed any cannabis-related offenses. It would place a ban on marijuana advertising and prevent consumers from taking cannabis to a location that sells alcohol and tobacco.
Lauterbach stated in 2022 that lawmakers would file the legislation in the first quarter of 2023, but he added that he doesn’t expect a fast-track approval process. In his recent statement, Lauterbach noted that the government’s goal of controlled cannabis dispensing was meant to preserve consumer health, protect children and youths, tackle drug-related crime and address the black market.
The legislation is quite unprecedented in Europe and would make Germany among the first countries aside from Malta and Luxembourg to launch such a legal cannabis market. However, the legislation has been subject to tons of scrutiny and may not receive the go-ahead from European and international authorities.
Except for Malta, which legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, marijuana is illegal to produce, sell and use in most of Europe thanks to its conservative stance on cannabis.
Countries such as Portugal, the Netherlands and Austria have decriminalized low-level cannabis possession, but efforts by Luxembourg to legalize cannabis in 2018 were hampered by the EU’s relatively conservative cannabis laws. If Germany convinces the EU to depart from its conservative cannabis policies, many more EU countries interested in legalization may follow suit.
As legalization spreads in different regions of the globe, innovative financial solutions such as those offered by REZYFi Inc. could see heightened demand as industry companies look for ways to fund their growth and expansion.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to REZYFi, Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/REZY
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