Lauterbach: Cannabis legalization not at the turn of the year
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has confirmed that the cannabis legalization initiated by the traffic light government will not come into force at the turn of the year as planned. The SPD politician told the "Tagesspiegel" newspaper that the debate on the content had been concluded, "even if it does not come into force on January 1". "The start of cannabis legislation will succeed."
It had previously been reported from within the traffic light factions that implementation would not work at the turn of the year. The plan is to pass the law in the last week of the Bundestag session this year between December 13 and 15. However, the Bundesrat will then have to take its turn and the deadlines for the last Bundesrat meeting of the year on December 15 are too tight, it was said.
Although the plans do not require the approval of the Upper House, it must discuss them, just like any other law. The next Bundesrat meeting is then on February 2, 2024, after which the law could come into force.
The bill provides for cannabis to be removed from the list of prohibited substances in the Narcotics Act. Adults aged 18 and over would be allowed to possess 25 grams. A maximum of three plants would be allowed to be grown privately. In cannabis clubs, club members would be allowed to grow the drug together and supply it to each other.
Despite the plans not being implemented at the turn of the year, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach remains optimistic about the eventual start of cannabis legislation. He emphasized that the discussions on the cannabis bill's content have been concluded, and the aim is to pass the law during the last week of the Bundestag session this year, potentially allowing for cannabis legalization in the future.
Source: www.dpa.com
