Politics
Merkel May Agree To Legalize Marijuana In Germany Under Coalition Deal
Members of a potential German coalition government, including the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, are nearing agreement on a deal to legalize marijuana, reports indicate.
Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and its ally the Christian Social Union together got the most votes in September’s election, but they also lost seats and don’t have a clear majority. That means they need the support of other parties to govern.
The conservative alliance is now in talks with Free Democrats and Greens to form a governing agreement and, as part of those negotiations, are nearing completion of a deal to legalize marijuana and have it legally distributed through pharmacies, the German newspaper Stuttgarter-Zeitung is reporting.
Members of the so-called “Jamaica coalition” (because the colors of the involved parties are reminiscent of those on the Caribbean nation’s flag) are expected to formalize a marijuana policy agreement toward the tail end of the talks, after other issues are settled.
“We are ready to do that,” Fritz Becker, Chairman of the German Pharmacists Association, said of distributing marijuana through pharmacies.
The regulated storefronts would provide “advice on risks and side effects, good customer service and ensure clean goods,” he said.
Other issues at play in the potential German coalition government agreement include immigration and climate policy, Reuters reported.
If the negotiations result in a formal agreement to legalize marijuana, Germany would become the second country in a matter of weeks where an interparty governing deal forced a move toward ending cannabis prohibition.
Last week, a minority coalition government agreement in New Zealand led to new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pledging to hold a nationwide marijuana legalization referendum by 2020.
