Hamburg: A city in Germany where the flow of the river Elbe meets the North Sea. - Dozen instances of marijuana offenses near daycare facilities and educational institutions have been recorded.
Over the first two months after cannabis consumption was made legal, police officials in Hamburg recorded a dozen incidents of prohibited use near schools and kindergartens. By May 27th, authorities had noticed three violations within a kindergarten area. Marijuana or hashish was consumed eight instances near schools, while it was once used in an area with both a school and a kindergarten. The police pursued legal actions in three cases; in other instances, they issued warnings if the people responsible were found.
Hamburg enforces a 100-meter distance from educational institutions when enjoying cannabis. Penalties for breaking this law start at 500 euros, while consuming cannabis near minors incurs a 1,000 euro fine, as stated in the Senate's announcement on May 8th.
As of now, there is a significant information deficit among Hamburg schools regarding the new law. The Senate responded to a small inquiry from the CDU parliamentary group with the news that questions have been raised regarding legal consequences, measures, and responsibilities. The schools are concerned that the knowledge of young people about the risks of cannabis use could decline as a result of these changes, potentially leading to more consumption.
In response to these concerns, the school administration recently advised kindergarten and school principals to ban the transportation of cannabis through an amendment to their school rules. As per the law, adults may legally carry up to 25 grams. Furthermore, the Senate plans to question additional schools later in the year regarding any problems stemming from this new law.
Commenting on the matter, the education policy spokeswoman for the CDU parliamentary group, Birgit Stoever, said, "The federal government's cannabis legalization is an immense mistake that needs to be changed immediately." She also noted the potential health risks, especially for children and teenagers, and raised concerns about the issues still facing the states.
Stoever demanded that kindergartens and schools must remain completely free of drugs, describing the initial violations as "a bad sign" for the future. "We must protect the health of the children and adolescents," she emphasized. "Offenders must face legal consequences."
Read also:
- Despite the legalization of cannabis, the CDU parliamentary group in Hamburg believes that the consumption of drugs near schools and kindergartens is a significant concern, especially given the potential health risks for children and teenagers.
- In response to the concerns raised by the CDU, Hamburg schools have amended their rules to ban the transportation of cannabis, as adults are legally allowed to carry up to 25 grams.
- The police in Hamburg have recorded over a dozen instances of marijuana offenses near daycare facilities and educational institutions since cannabis was made legal, with penalties starting at 500 euros for breaking the 100-meter distance law.
- The Senate in Hamburg has acknowledged the information deficit among schools regarding the new law and plans to question additional schools later in the year regarding any problems stemming from cannabis legalization.
- Birgit Stoever, the education policy spokeswoman for the CDU parliamentary group, has criticized the federal government's cannabis legalization as an "immense mistake" and demanded that kindergartens and schools remain completely free of drugs, with offenders facing legal consequences.
