The German government approves the legalization of cannabis

The rules authorize the consumption and cultivation of cannabis for recreational purposes for all adults. Now the bill must receive the approval of Parliament

Germany is one step closer to legalizing the use and cultivation of cannabis for recreational purposes. On August 16, the German government's council of ministers approved the final text of the bill that could introduce one of the most liberal regulations in the European Union on the subject, thus giving strong momentum to a possible new wave of similar laws at the European and global level.

The law, a government initiative, would allow adults to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis, cultivate a maximum of 3 plants at a time and purchase inflorescences or derivatives from cannabis clubs modeled after the Spanish system, with access limited to adult club members, with a limit of 30 grams per month for young adults and 50 for adults. Alongside these provisions, a pillar of the law is an information and awareness campaign on responsible use and possible risks.

Now the ball will pass to parliament for final approval, where it will have to face fierce opposition from conservative and right-wing parties. However, if it remains united, the progressive majority formed by the Greens, Social Democratic Party, Liberal Party and led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz should have no problem winning a battle capable of bringing at least 5 million declared German consumers, plus all the undeclared ones, back into legality, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The countries where it is legal

Germany is just the latest country to take the path of legalization to combat the black market and the revenues of organized crime. Most of the United States, Canada, Uruguay, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain are just some of the countries that have already rejected the criminalization and demonization of cannabis, beginning to regulate it exactly as alcoholic beverages are regulated.

The United Nations itself has recently changed its approach, removing cannabis from the famous Schedule IV, which lists the most harmful substances for humans, and instead recognizing its therapeutic properties. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a page dedicated to alcohol that emphasizes how “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for human health”, but does not report the same for cannabis.

Again, the WHO highlights how alcohol consumption contributes to causing more than 3 million deaths per year globally, is responsible for 5.1% of all global health problems, and increases the risk of “a wide range of social problems”, such as violence and other dangerous behaviors. In the section dedicated to cannabis, however, there is nothing of the sort. There are therapeutic indications, but no list of deaths, a list of health risks for chronic users, most of which are linked to intake by smoking, but no warnings against violence or antisocial behavior.

The health risks linked to the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, are limited to temporary confusion and motor difficulties, related to the immediacy of consumption. While for chronic users there may be memory loss, dependence, the possibility of worsening symptoms for people with schizophrenia, and nothing else.