International
German police clarify that they did not suggest the consumption of cannabis (instead of alcohol) to English fans at Euro 2024
The police in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, were cited in a news report stating that attention would be more focused on Euro 2024 fans who were consuming alcoholic beverages than on fans who consume cannabis. The statements launched a wave of news that claimed the police were recommending the use of cannabis over alcohol. However, the police have already come deny which would be encouraging cannabis consumption during Euro 2024, emphasizing the importance of public safety and correcting erroneous statements published by the British press.
In the context of the 2024 European Football Championship, the Gelsenkirchen police have been at the center of a controversy related to the use of cannabis by fans. Initially, British newspapers The Sun e Mail Online published that local police authorities were encouraging the consumption of cannabis during the event, creating a wrong perception that this use would be encouraged compared to alcohol consumption. However, German police quickly corrected this interpretation.
No article From The Sun, a Gelsenkirchen police spokesman said there would be “no problem” if fans smoked cannabis in the streets. Stephan Knipp allegedly stated that “if we see a group of people drinking alcohol and looking a little aggressive and another group smoking cannabis, of course we will look at the group that is drinking alcohol”. This statement suggested that the police considered cannabis use to be a more peaceful alternative to alcohol consumption.
Official Clarification
After this news spread, the Gelsenkirchen police have issued an official correction yesterday, June 15th. According to the statement, reports that the police were encouraging the consumption of cannabis instead of alcohol were categorized as “wrong” and the result of an out-of-context quote by an English journalist. Peter Both, the spokesperson for the statement, clarified that “the police will ensure the safety of fans during the European Football Championship and will be on the lookout for aggressive groups that are acting in a disruptive manner, regardless of drug use”.
Although adults can currently carry up to 25 grams of cannabis and consume it in public in Germany, there are significant restrictions. Cannabis cannot be consumed near schools, kindergartens or other places frequented by children and young people. During Euro 2024, this ban applies specifically to fan meeting points, fan zones and stadium grounds where children and young people are expected to be present.
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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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I am one of the directors of CannaReporter, which I founded together with Laura Ramos. I am from the unique Island of Madeira, where I currently reside. While I was in Lisbon at FCUL studying Physical Engineering, I became involved in the national hemp and cannabis scene and participated in several associations, some of which I am still a member of. I follow the global industry and especially legislative advances regarding the different uses of cannabis.
I can be contacted by email at joao.costa@cannareporter.eu
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The police, when they publicly admit that a behavior must necessarily be subject to rigorous scrutiny, while other behavior, not so much, makes it clear that in their opinion one of them is a lesser evil and it can only be understood from there that if they could make the recommendation for the “lesser evil”, I would not hesitate to do so.