Earlier in the year, Germany became the first large nation in the European Union to legalize the personal recreational use of marijuana. In concrete terms, individuals aged 18 years and older are allowed to be in possession of no more than 25 grams of marijuana for consumption.
Under the new law, enthusiasts can also grow three plants in their homes and store no more than 50 grams of dried marijuana in their homes. However, they aren’t allowed to smoke the drug in public.
While this is a huge milestone, activists note that red tape has hindered the program from fully taking effect.
At the start of this month, registered marijuana clubs, which are crucial to creating a smooth foundation toward legal cannabis and replacing the illicit market, were established. This process, which was expected to play a key role in demonstrating the effectiveness of evidence-based drug policy, has now been buried under various statutes and restrictions.
High Ground club member Oliver Waack-Jürgensen claims that the biggest issue currently is the unclear situation with the authorities. Waack-Jürgensen notes that there are big regional differences in this German law, adding that the law is too complex.
As stipulated, would-be founders of these marijuana clubs are required to report their permanent locations, member numbers and the estimated annual marijuana output before they can obtain approval. Any surplus marijuana produced is to be destroyed, with only club members being allowed to cultivate, water, fertilize and harvest these crops. Passing on leaves or buds to friends isn’t permitted, but one can do so with seeds.
Consumption of the drug on club premises is also forbidden, and while club members are required to pay fees before operations can commence, clubs aren’t permitted to advertise. This has eliminated what would have been a key source of revenue needed to rent premises and land for cultivation purposes.
Additionally, any individual who picks up the drug is required to do so in person, with a biometric photo affixed onto their ID. Furthermore, club members are required to have a clean criminal record for narcotics, signed up to the club for at least three months and lived in Germany for six months or longer.
It should be noted that all procedures mentioned above shall and can be reviewed at any time by authorities without prior notice.
Leipzig club member Marten Knopke claims that these clubs are subject to more restrictions than any alcohol business, noting that the government has made it difficult for the legal market to take on the illicit market.
This has made these nonprofit clubs, which were established to offer security, protection, quality control and addiction prevention measures, too restrictive for residents and even outsiders to enjoy the “legal” market fully.
It doesn’t help either that even with the law’s passage, conservative regions still oppose the use of the drug.
As the market gets established, international companies such as Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) will be watching the developments closely to see how they impact the broader region and its cannabis policies.
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