Germany will legalize cannabis — but nobody knows when
The political will is there. But actually implementing it is hampered by international law, bureaucracy and tax rules. Activists want the process sped up.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Cannabis has become a part of everyday culture in Germany and now, policymaking. The coalition government of center-left Social Democrats (SPD), environmentalist Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) stated clearly: "We are introducing the controlled supply of recreational cannabis to adults in licensed shops." To turn these words into practical policies, however, is proving to be a monumental task. It involves almost every federal government ministry, which makes the legislative process very complex. Although all signs point toward legalization, a cannabis consumer gets caught in the net of the police and judicial system every three minutes. That is why activists are calling for the consumption of cannabis to be decriminalized immediately as a first step, something provided for in the UN conventions.
