German Government Insists on Drug Legalization

Germany's liberal finance minister, Christian Lindner, will not give up on his efforts to legalize the use of cannabis.

As is known, the law on legalizing cannabis adopted by the Bundestag passed its final hurdle in the chamber of the federal states (aka the Bundesrat), a few days ago. Despite strong criticism of the legislation, the Bundesrat failed to muster a majority to convene a mediation committee to resolve disagreements about the law with the Bundestag. This would have delayed the law from entering into force on 1 April. The law permitting the possession and cultivation of marijuana by adults for personal use under a number of conditions marks a turning point in Germany's drug policy.

The interior ministers of federal states and the opposition are particularly concerned that with the law coming into effect, prison sentences or fines already imposed for crimes that will no longer be punishable in the future are to be scrapped, or convictions entered in the federal central criminal record should be expunged. In addition, the authorities haven't been prepared for detecting violations.

Cover photo: Illustration (Photo: Pexels)