The German Minister of Health expects legalization to come into force in 2024.
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One more European country. The German government agreed on Wednesday 26 October, on a framework for the legalization of cannabis for recreational use for adults, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced. However, this project remains subject to the approval of European law.
The outline of the project aims to place the production and trade of cannabis under “public control” and in particular authorize the purchase and possession “of a maximum quantity of 20 up to 30 grams” for personal consumption, detailed the minister during a press conference.
The document provides “public control of the supply chain” in cannabis with the aim of “guarantee health protection and curb organized crime and the black market”. He organizes “the production, delivery and trade of recreational cannabis under state-controlled licensing”. Use by those under 18, however, continues to be strictly prohibited.
The German Minister justified this reform, which would make Germany one of the most liberal countries in Europe, by the will “to obtain better protection for children and young people” judging that the policy in this area had so far only “not really effective”. “If all goes well, I think legalization could happen in 2024”underlined the Social Democrat Minister.
But everything will depend on the examination of the European Commission. “We are in a phase where we are examining whether the main lines we have drawn up in this document are compatible with international and European law”, said the minister. In the event that the European Commission does not grant its approval, the document will not result in a text of law, he specified.