International

Germany got 'very good feedback' from European Commission to legalize cannabis

Published

2 years ago

March 14, 2023

Karl Lauterbach, Minister of Health of Germany. Photo: DR

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said today in Brussels that he received "very good feedback" from the European Commission for the legalization of cannabis in the country, advanced the report. NTV. Lauterbach believes that the European Union (EU) will approve its plans for the full regulation of cannabis in Germany and announced that "in the coming weeks" a bill will be presented.

Germany has already expressed, on several occasions, the intention to move forward with full legalization of cannabis, but the process turned out to be quite complex, with several concerns arising, namely whether legalization would be in line with with European law. Lauterbach has his project being verified by the EU Commission and today it seems that another step forward has been taken to overcome regulatory obstacles.

Around 4 million people used cannabis in Germany in 2021, 25% of whom were under the age of 24. A study by the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics revealed last year that full legalization could represent annual tax revenues of around €4,7 billion and the creation of 27 new jobs, but there was a barrier to overcome: EU legislation .

“We will soon present a proposal that works, that is, that complies with European legislation”, said Lauterbach. According to NTV, the minister was optimistic that the proposal will reduce drug-related crime and make cannabis use safer, saying that "we will achieve these goals".

lauterbach presented the key points for the legalization of cannabis last October. Among others, the list stipulates that the acquisition and possession of up to 20 to 30 grams must be exempt from punishment. Supply and distribution should only be allowed within a government-licensed and controlled structure and private cultivation should be allowed up to a certain point – in principle three plants per person.

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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

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Laura Ramos

With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.