Germany Becomes Third EU Country To Legalize Cannabis

The Bundestag approved partial cannabis legalization in a final floor vote on Friday, making Germany the third country in Europe to legalize adult-use marijuana after Malta and Luxembourg. 

Under Germany’s partial cannabis legalization, known as the CanG bill, cannabis will be removed from the Narcotics Act where it was listed as a banned substance such as heroin and other drugs where it was subject to specific criminal provisions. The law passed in a 407 to 226 vote.

"The passage and implementation of the CanG bill is monumental for the German people, especially with regard to decriminalizing and, ultimately, destigmatizing cannabis use." Niklas Kouparanis, co-founder and CEO of a Frankfurt-based medical cannabis holding company the Bloomwell Group told Benzinga." It's also extremely impactful and beneficial for medical cannabis patients, as reclassification paves the way for more people in need to access medical cannabis as they would any Rx prescription and at more affordable price points." 

Prior to Friday’s much-anticipated vote, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said he was optimistic the measure would be approved despite doubts from opposition politicians. He said the new law would stem the illicit market. Germany is the second-most populous country on the continent, with a population of about 84 million.

“This is an important improvement in our drug policy,” Lauterbach said, according to DPA. “With this law, we will achieve a significant reduction in the black market, better protection for children and young people and a safer product for older consumers.”

Kouparanis highlighted the importance of reclassification as a way to make the medical marijuana program more patient-friendly. "For example, it will be possible to use eReceipts for prescriptions. With Bloomwell Group and our telehealth company Algea Care, we will be able to make online access to the medical cannabis therapy that patients need as seamless and simple as possible,” he said. 

"The passage of the law is a tremendous victory and we look forward to continued progress in Germany. In the long term, we are ultimately striving for full-scale adult-use legalization across the entire value chain."

Under the new law, adults over 18 will be allowed to possess 25 grams for personal consumption and in public spaces. Consumers can keep 50 grams of dried marijuana in their private apartments. Home growing of a maximum of three plants and cannabis clubs for non-commercial cultivation will be legal. Initially, cannabis sales will only be permitted in licensed shops in certain regions, reports WirtschaftsWoche.

Opponents And Advocates 

The final approval came two days after Bundestag's Health Committee approved the measure, after which, the Union parliamentary group spokesman Tino Sorge urged the undecided members of the coalition government to vote against the proposed law, calling it a “historical mistake.”  Law enforcement and the German Association of Judges joined the chorus in opposition to the measure. 

Advocates, however, spoke loudly in favor of a reasonable legalization law. Janosch Dahmen, a physician and member of the Greens Party, called cannabis legalization an overdue paradigm shift. “We have to adapt cannabis drug policy to social reality in order to combat the black market and, in particular, to protect children and young people.”

Some 30 scientific researchers and experts recently called on the Bundestag in an open letter to approve the proposed partial legalization of cannabis. 

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 Photo Via El Planteo.