![](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank-56.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Details about the reform framework<\/a> have been surfacing in media reports<\/a> over the past couple weeks as the Health Ministry has worked to finalize the plan before submitting it to the full Cabinet on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Now it has the government\u2019s sign-off, moving it closer to being considered by lawmakers\u2014but not before it is sent to the European Commission for a review. In that respect, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the proposal wasn\u2019t exactly a \u201cmajor breakthrough in drug policy\u201d yet.<\/p>\n \u201cIf 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,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to decriminalize the use of cannabis in order to achieve better protection for children and young people, but also better health protection,\u201d Lauterbach said.<\/p>\n Zur Ausgangslage sagt @Karl_Lauterbach<\/a>: \u201eDer Cannabiskonsum ist in den letzten Jahren gestiegen, Kinder- und Jugendschutz sind nicht ausreichend gew\u00e4hrleistet. Und wir beobachten ein problematisches Suchtverhalten bei Erwachsenen. Der Trend geht in die falsche Richtung.\u201c<\/p>\n \u2014 Bundesgesundheitsministerium (@BMG_Bund) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n The basics of the proposal<\/a>\u2014which as of now is in the form of a 12-page framework and not actual legislation\u2014are 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Cannabis Legalisierung ist notwendig, wenn wir unsere nicht erfolgreiche Bek\u00e4mpfung von Drogenkriminalit\u00e4t 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<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Prof. Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Under the framework, all ongoing criminal proceedings related to offenses made legal under the reform would be suspended and closed upon implementation.<\/p>\n Sales couldn\u2019t take place a store where tobacco or alcohol is also sold. There would also be a ban on cannabis advertising.<\/p>\n Marijuana would be subject to the country\u2019s sales tax, and the plan calls for an additional \u201cspecial consumption tax.\u201d However, it doesn\u2019t specify that number, instead arguing that it should be set at a rate that\u2019s competitive with the illicit market.<\/p>\n \u2014 Lauterbach said the draft law would be filed at earliest in the first quarter of 2023 but that he doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n This agreed-upon framework is the product of months of review and negotiations within the administration and the \u201ctraffic light\u201d coalition government. German officials took a first step toward legalization in June<\/a>, kicking off a series of hearings meant to help inform legislation to end prohibition in the country.<\/p>\n Wesentliche Inhalte der #Cannabis<\/a> Eckpunkte: \u2014 SPD-Fraktion im Bundestag (@spdbt) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n But the health minister\u2019s comments on Wednesday has tempered optimism about the prospects of legalizing marijuana in Germany given the stated deference to international and European bodies.<\/p>\n The European Commission in 2020 did recommend<\/a> 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\u2019s still not clear how it would come down on Germany\u2019s legalization plan.<\/p>\n Es geht vorw\u00e4rts mit der Legalisierung von #Cannabis<\/a> f\u00fcr Erwachsene zu Genusszwecken! Mit dem heutigen Kabinettsbeschluss betritt die Bundesregierung ein ganz neues Feld. Danke an @BMG_Bund<\/a> @Karl_Lauterbach<\/a> f\u00fcr die Federf\u00fchrung. Wir werden es weiter beackern. #LegalizeIt<\/a> #Bubatz<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/zEnxtxmlf7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 BMEL (@bmel) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n 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\u2019s worth, Malta is an EU member nation that legalized cannabis late last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some German lawmakers remain discontent with the Cabinet framework even after it was slightly revised to loosen restrictions.<\/p>\n For example, Kirsten Yet Kappert-Gonther, the Green party\u2019s vice chair of Parliament\u2019s health committee, told<\/a> POLITICO EU that she continues to believe that the proposed regulations are too strict to effectively mitigate the illicit market.<\/p>\n Mit dem Kabinettsbeschluss \u00fcber das Eckpunktepapier kommt die Legalisierung von #Cannabis<\/a> endlich ins Rollen. Denn: Nur durch kontrollierte Abgabe an Erwachsene k\u00f6nnen wir echten Jugend- & Gesundheitsschutz gew\u00e4hrleisten.<\/p>\n Next step der \u2014 Gr\u00fcne im Bundestag However, she said the conversation is \u201cprogressing,\u201d according to a translation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe key points are coming! No THC upper limit for over 21s, up to 30g purchase and possession of #Cannabis , 3 plants self-cultivated,\u201d she said. \u201cGood this way! Next step Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n Es geht voran. Die Eckpunkte kommen! Keine THC-Obergrenze f\u00fcr \u00fcber 21j\u00e4hrige, bis 30 g Erwerb und Besitz von #Cannabis<\/a>, 3 Pflanzen Eigenbau. Gut so! Next step Gesetzentwurf.<\/p>\n \u2014 Kirsten Kappert-Gonther (@KirstenKappert) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Kristine L\u00fctke of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), said the plan \u201cfalls short of providing effective and good youth, health, and consumer protection, while at the same time reining in the black market.\u201d<\/p>\n Die vorgeschlagene #Besitzmenge<\/a> von legalem #Cannabis<\/a> lehne ich strikt ab. Schlie\u00dflich regulieren wir auch nicht, wie viel Wein oder Bier jemand besitzen darf. Hier m\u00fcssen wir im parlamentarischen Verfahren nachbessern! #Eckpunktepapier<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kristine L\u00fctke MdB (@kristine_lutke) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Conservative lawmakers have been consistently opposed to the legalization proposal, and the Christian Social Union\u2019s Stephan Pilsinger said he expects that the European Commission will decline to authorize the reform.<\/p>\n Die Eckpunkte sind gute Grundlage f\u00fcr die Erarbeitung des Gesetzesentwurfes. 1. Schritt ist jetzt getan, viele m\u00fcssen folgen #cannabis<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/sbk4Mm7Q4w<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Maria Klein-Schmeink *Impfen sch\u00fctzt \u2013 Maske auch* (@MariaKlSchmeink) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n A group of German lawmakers, as well as Narcotics Drugs Commissioner Burkhard Blienert, recently\u00a0visited California and toured cannabis businesses<\/a>\u00a0to inform their country\u2019s approach to legalization.<\/p>\n The visit came about two months after top officials from Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands\u00a0held a first-of-its-kind meeting to discuss plans and challenges<\/a>\u00a0associated with recreational marijuana legalization.<\/p>\n Leaders of the coalition government said last year that they had\u00a0reached an agreement to end cannabis prohibition<\/a>\u00a0and enact regulations for a legal industry, and they\u00a0previewed certain details of that plan<\/a>\u00a0earlier this year.<\/p>\n A novel international survey that was released in April\u00a0found majority support for legalization<\/a>\u00a0in several key European countries, including Germany.<\/p>\n Biden Health Secretary Has Already Talked To FDA About Marijuana Scheduling Review, Which Will Move \u2018Quickly\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis \/\/ Side Pocket Images.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Germany\u2019s Government Approves Marijuana Legalization Plan, But Reform Depends On European Union Sign-Off<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s 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 theContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":57723,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57722"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57722"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57724,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57722\/revisions\/57724"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank-55.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
![\"➡\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/27a1-1.png\")
Abgabe erfolgt ausschlie\u00dflich an Erwachsene. Ggf. Obergrenze f\u00fcr THC-Gehalt bis zur Vollendung des 21. Lebensjahres.![\"➡\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/27a1-2.png\")
Erwerb & Besitz bis max. 20 bis 30 Gramm Cannabis zum Eigenkonsum im privaten & \u00f6ffentlichen Raum straffrei.<\/p>\n\n
\n
![\"🥦\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1f966.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"🚦\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1f6a6.png\")
: Arbeiten am Gesetzentwurf! pic.twitter.com\/7uFg7EJxwQ<\/a><\/p>\n![\"🇪🇺\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1f1ea-1f1fa.png\")
![\"🏳️🌈\"](\"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1f3f3-fe0f-200d-1f308.png\")
(@GrueneBundestag) October 26, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nRead More: Germany\u2019s Government Approves Marijuana Legalization Plan, But Reform Depends On European Union Sign-Off<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"