Legalization of marijuana in Germany - preliminary plans for new legislation have leaked, outraged activists say Prohibition 2.0, and the government denies the reports. Proposals allegedly being worked on by the German government have leaked to the public and are stirring up controversy. Activists and cannabis activists believe that the proposed changes are actually a new version of prohibition, with the term Prohibition 2.0 appearing more and more frequently. Concerns are caused primarily by the proposed THC limits of 10 and 15% depending on the age of the consumer. The proposed amounts of weed that will be allowed to be possessed are also causing concern. However, German politicians reassure that they have no such plans. So what is the issue? Here's more information.
Legalization of marijuana in Germany - preliminary plans for new legislation leaked, outraged activists say Prohibition 2.0
Legalization of marijuana in Germany is gaining momentum. Relatively recently, the country's finance minister announced that the new law would take effect as early as 2023. Now information has been leaked to the public, about the planned changes and new regulations.
Unfortunately, the proposed changes presented by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) are not satisfactory and will not really lead to the disappearance of the black market.
The German minister's biggest concern is the THC limits, which would be:
- 10% THC for people 18 to 21 years old
- 15% THC for those over 21
Another worrisome provision of the new law is expected to be a limit on possession of up to 20. grams of pot by an adult.
Of course, the THC concentration limits are the biggest concern. Cannabis varieties mostly have concentrations above 15%. There is also the question of what about hashish and extracts/concentrates, which contain up to about 80% THC. What about varieties above 15%? Will all this still remain on the black market and behind official circulation? It should be remembered that the elimination of the black market is one of the main goals of the planned changes. Can it succeed in the proposed form? Very doubtful.
No one is putting a limit on the possession of beer to one case
-comments Georg Wurth of the German cannabis association "Deutsche Hanf Verband"
Carmen Wegge, who represents the SPD party involved in the new legislation, reassures, however, that politicians realize that a possession limit of up to 20 grams of dried beer is not practical, if only because the yield per plant is much higher, and the government wants to allow the cultivation of 2 bushels of cannabis.
Ministry denies media reports
The German Health Ministry, following the reports, immediately held a press conference to deny the reports.
There is neither an agreed document on the key issues of the new regulations, nor is there any such document issued by the Health Ministry on the matter. The coordinated document on key issues is not yet ready.
- We heard at a press conference held on Wednesday.
Interestingly, the German government announced that the documents discussed in the German media are not an official bill that has somehow miraculously leaked to the public from the ministry. No, the German government claims that the documents in question were accidentally found in... a park, on a bench. That's right, German politicians deny that the document is governmental and claim that it was found in a park. What in the park would the bill be doing? that's what they don't say.
There are many indications that this is a public sentiment check on the new legislation, or simply fake news.
