Politics
Germany’s Government Approves Marijuana Legalization Plan, But Reform Depends On European Union Sign-Off
Germany’s Federal Cabinet has officially approved a plan to legalize marijuana nationwide. But officials say that its fate ultimately rests in whether international and European policy allows the country to move ahead.
Details about the reform framework have been surfacing in media reports over the past couple weeks as the Health Ministry has worked to finalize the plan before submitting it to the full Cabinet on Wednesday.
Now it has the government’s sign-off, moving it closer to being considered by lawmakers—but not before it is sent to the European Commission for a review. In that respect, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the proposal wasn’t exactly a “major breakthrough in drug policy” yet.
“If this preliminary examination clearly showed that this path would not be viable for the European Commission, then we would not develop a bill on this basis either,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. The German government will separately issue a declaration about whether the framework aligns with broader international treaty obligations.
“We want to decriminalize the use of cannabis in order to achieve better protection for children and young people, but also better health protection,” Lauterbach said.
Zur Ausgangslage sagt @Karl_Lauterbach: „Der Cannabiskonsum ist in den letzten Jahren gestiegen, Kinder- und Jugendschutz sind nicht ausreichend gewährleistet. Und wir beobachten ein problematisches Suchtverhalten bei Erwachsenen. Der Trend geht in die falsche Richtung.“
— Bundesgesundheitsministerium (@BMG_Bund) October 26, 2022
The basics of the proposal—which as of now is in the form of a 12-page framework and not actual legislation—are that adults 18 and older could buy and possess 20-30 grams of marijuana at federally licensed stores and possibly pharmacies. They could also grow up to three plants for personal use, with rules on enclosing them to prevent youth access.
An earlier leaked version called for a THC cap on all cannabis products, but that was revised following pushback from advocates and lawmakers. Now the government says it will only consider a THC limit for products sold to people aged 18-20.
Cannabis Legalisierung ist notwendig, wenn wir unsere nicht erfolgreiche Bekämpfung von Drogenkriminalität beenden wollen. Das Gesetz wird auch den Konsum insbesondere bei jungen Menschen reduzieren. Bessere Gesundheit und weniger Konsum sind das Ziel https://t.co/FRjbN2yCKz
— Prof. Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) October 26, 2022
Under the framework, all ongoing criminal proceedings related to offenses made legal under the reform would be suspended and closed upon implementation.
Sales couldn’t take place a store where tobacco or alcohol is also sold. There would also be a ban on cannabis advertising.
Marijuana would be subject to the country’s sales tax, and the plan calls for an additional “special consumption tax.” However, it doesn’t specify that number, instead arguing that it should be set at a rate that’s competitive with the illicit market.
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Lauterbach said the draft law would be filed at earliest in the first quarter of 2023 but that he doesn’t expect it could be approved swiftly. If things go according to plan on the international and domestic levels, it could be possible for legalization to take effect some time in 2024.
This agreed-upon framework is the product of months of review and negotiations within the administration and the “traffic light” coalition government. German officials took a first step toward legalization in June, kicking off a series of hearings meant to help inform legislation to end prohibition in the country.
Wesentliche Inhalte der #Cannabis Eckpunkte:
➡️ Abgabe erfolgt ausschließlich an Erwachsene. Ggf. Obergrenze für THC-Gehalt bis zur Vollendung des 21. Lebensjahres.
➡️ Erwerb & Besitz bis max. 20 bis 30 Gramm Cannabis zum Eigenkonsum im privaten & öffentlichen Raum straffrei.— SPD-Fraktion im Bundestag (@spdbt) October 26, 2022
But the health minister’s comments on Wednesday has tempered optimism about the prospects of legalizing marijuana in Germany given the stated deference to international and European bodies.
The European Commission in 2020 did recommend that member nations vote as a block in favor of a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation to remove marijuana from the strictest drug category under an international treaty. But it’s still not clear how it would come down on Germany’s legalization plan.
Es geht vorwärts mit der Legalisierung von #Cannabis für Erwachsene zu Genusszwecken! Mit dem heutigen Kabinettsbeschluss betritt die Bundesregierung ein ganz neues Feld. Danke an @BMG_Bund @Karl_Lauterbach für die Federführung. Wir werden es weiter beackern. #LegalizeIt #Bubatz https://t.co/zEnxtxmlf7
— BMEL (@bmel) October 26, 2022
Meanwhile, Canada and Uruguay have flouted United Nations policy by enacting legalization, but this will represent a key test within the EU. Also, for what it’s worth, Malta is an EU member nation that legalized cannabis late last year.
Some German lawmakers remain discontent with the Cabinet framework even after it was slightly revised to loosen restrictions.
For example, Kirsten Yet Kappert-Gonther, the Green party’s vice chair of Parliament’s health committee, told POLITICO EU that she continues to believe that the proposed regulations are too strict to effectively mitigate the illicit market.
Mit dem Kabinettsbeschluss über das Eckpunktepapier kommt die Legalisierung von #Cannabis endlich ins Rollen. 🥦
Denn: Nur durch kontrollierte Abgabe an Erwachsene können wir echten Jugend- & Gesundheitsschutz gewährleisten.
Next step der 🚦: Arbeiten am Gesetzentwurf! pic.twitter.com/7uFg7EJxwQ
— Grüne im Bundestag 🇪🇺🏳️🌈 (@GrueneBundestag) October 26, 2022
However, she said the conversation is “progressing,” according to a translation.
“The key points are coming! No THC upper limit for over 21s, up to 30g purchase and possession of #Cannabis , 3 plants self-cultivated,” she said. “Good this way! Next step Bill.”
Es geht voran. Die Eckpunkte kommen! Keine THC-Obergrenze für über 21jährige, bis 30 g Erwerb und Besitz von #Cannabis, 3 Pflanzen Eigenbau. Gut so! Next step Gesetzentwurf.
— Kirsten Kappert-Gonther (@KirstenKappert) October 26, 2022
Kristine Lütke of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), said the plan “falls short of providing effective and good youth, health, and consumer protection, while at the same time reining in the black market.”
Die vorgeschlagene #Besitzmenge von legalem #Cannabis lehne ich strikt ab. Schließlich regulieren wir auch nicht, wie viel Wein oder Bier jemand besitzen darf. Hier müssen wir im parlamentarischen Verfahren nachbessern! #Eckpunktepapier
— Kristine Lütke MdB (@kristine_lutke) October 26, 2022
Conservative lawmakers have been consistently opposed to the legalization proposal, and the Christian Social Union’s Stephan Pilsinger said he expects that the European Commission will decline to authorize the reform.
Die Eckpunkte sind gute Grundlage für die Erarbeitung des Gesetzesentwurfes. 1. Schritt ist jetzt getan, viele müssen folgen #cannabis https://t.co/sbk4Mm7Q4w
— Maria Klein-Schmeink *Impfen schützt – Maske auch* (@MariaKlSchmeink) October 26, 2022
A group of German lawmakers, as well as Narcotics Drugs Commissioner Burkhard Blienert, recently visited California and toured cannabis businesses to inform their country’s approach to legalization.
The visit came about two months after top officials from Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands held a first-of-its-kind meeting to discuss plans and challenges associated with recreational marijuana legalization.
Leaders of the coalition government said last year that they had reached an agreement to end cannabis prohibition and enact regulations for a legal industry, and they previewed certain details of that plan earlier this year.
A novel international survey that was released in April found majority support for legalization in several key European countries, including Germany.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
