{"id":1236383,"date":"2022-10-27T15:33:06","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T15:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/27\/germany-to-legalise-purchase-of-up-to-30-grams-of-marijuana-to-boost-economy\/"},"modified":"2022-10-27T15:33:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T15:33:06","slug":"germany-to-legalise-purchase-of-up-to-30-grams-of-marijuana-to-boost-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/27\/germany-to-legalise-purchase-of-up-to-30-grams-of-marijuana-to-boost-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany to legalise purchase of up to 30 grams of marijuana to boost economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It could soon be legal to possess up to 20 to 30 grams of cannabis in Berlin \u2013 Photo: ROBERT GALBRAITH\/ REUTERS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Germany set out plans on Wednesday to legalise cannabis, a move Chancellor Olaf Scholz\u2019s government said would make Germany one of the first countries in Europe to do so.<\/p>\n

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented a cornerstone paper on planned legislation to regulate the controlled distribution and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes among adults.<\/p>\n

Acquiring and possessing 20 to 30 grams of recreational cannabis for personal consumption would also be made legal.<\/p>\n

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German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach attends a news conference on legalising cannabis, in Berlin, Germany, October 26, 2022. REUTERS\/Michele Tantussi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The coalition government struck an agreement last year to introduce legislation during its four-year term to allow the controlled distribution of cannabis in licensed shops.<\/p>\n

Lauterbach did not give a timeline for the plan.<\/p>\n

Many countries of the region have already legalised cannabis for limited medicinal purposes, including Germany since 2017. Others have decriminalised its general use, while stopping short of making it legal.<\/p>\n

According to the paper, private self-cultivation would be permitted to a limited extent. Ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings connected to cases no longer illegal would be terminated.<\/p>\n

The government will also introduce a special consumption tax, and develop cannabis-related education and abuse prevention programmes.<\/p>\n

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A person holds a joint as activists gather to mark the annual world cannabis day and to protest for legalization of marijuana, in front of the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 2022. REUTERS\/Lisi Niesner\/File Photo
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Legalising cannabis could bring Germany annual tax revenues and cost savings of about 4.7 billion euros ($4.7 billion) and create 27,000 new jobs, a survey found last year.<\/p>\n

Some 4 million people consumed cannabis in Germany last year, 25% of whom were between ages 18 and 24, Lauterbach said, adding the legalisation would squeeze out the cannabis black market.<\/p>\n

Germany will present the paper to the European Commission for pre-assessment and will only draft a law once the Commission approves the plan, the minister added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the EU Commission says no to Germany\u2019s current approach, our government should seek alternative solutions. Not just say: Well, we tried our best,\u201d said Niklas Kouparanis, chief executive Bloomwell Group, one of Germany\u2019s largest cannabis firms.<\/p>\n

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A man carries a sign reading \u201cNot criminal\u201d as he participates in a gathering with marijuana activists to mark the annual world cannabis day and to protest for legalization of marijuana, in front of the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 2022. REUTERS\/Lisi Niesner\/File Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Berlin should have a plan B if the EU rejects the legalisation, Kouparanis said, adding that cannabis imports should be permitted as domestic cultivation will not be able to meet demand in the short term.<\/p>\n

The decision has already stirred a mix of reactions across Europe\u2019s biggest economy.<\/p>\n

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A person dressed in a costume depicting a cannabis leaf walks among marijuana activists to mark the annual world cannabis day and to protest for legalization of marijuana, in front of the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 2022. REUTERS\/Lisi Niesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Germany\u2019s pharmacists association warned of the health risks of legalising cannabis and said it would put pharmacies in medical conflict.<\/p>\n

Pharmacists are health care professionals, so \u201ca possible competitive situation with purely commercial providers is viewed particularly critically,\u201d Thomas Preis, head of the North Rhine Pharmacists\u2019 Association, told the Rheinische Post newspaper.<\/p>\n

The legalisation plan has not been welcomed by all federal states. Bavaria\u2019s health minister, for instance, warned that Germany should not become a drug tourism destination in Europe.<\/p>\n

But Germany\u2019s Greens said decades of prohibiting cannabis have only exacerbated the risks.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause too-restrictive conditions for the legal market only promote the black market for particularly strong cannabis,\u201d lawmaker Kirsten Kappert-Gonther said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Lars Mueller, chief executive of German cannabis firm SynBiotic, said Wednesday\u2019s step was \u201calmost like winning the lottery\u201d for his company.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the time comes, we will be able to offer franchise-like models for cannabis stores in addition to our own stores,\u201d Mueller said.<\/p>\n

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