- Philippi introduces severe fines for cannabis-related offenses
Lower Saxony's Health Minister Andrew Phillips is about to unveil a penalties list for breaches of the Cannabis Act. "We've got the penalty list all set, it's just in the coordination stage now," Phillips told the German Press Agency in Hannover. "I'm expecting some hefty fines."
Local authorities and the police have had the power to impose proportionate fines for some time, according to a government spokesperson who spoke a few weeks back. Consistency is important when dealing with frequent violations, so a catalog of penalties makes sense. The parliamentary business manager of the CDU state parliament faction, Carina Hermann, had pushed for fines reaching several thousand euros.
In other federal states, there already exist penalty catalogs with set fines for smoking pot near schools, kindergartens, or playgrounds. Fines can also be imposed for consuming cannabis in pedestrian zones at certain times or carrying more than 25 grams of it in public. The Cannabis Act, a contentious issue, came into effect on April 1st.
Phillips: Demand for counseling on the rise
Five months after the partial legalization, there's no clear picture of drug prevention, Phillips admitted. However, the need for counseling has gone up compared to past years. The Health Ministry recorded 3,365 prevention initiatives last year, with 44% focused on cannabis. "And we're expecting an even bigger increase this year."
The minister is worried about teens aged 15 to 17, who are officially banned from using cannabis. The issue is that they often hang out with 18-year-old friends who are allowed to consume it. "How do you control who's smoking in the room?" Phillips questioned. At this age, the brain is still developing significantly. The risk of psychosis or schizophrenia from cannabis consumption is correspondingly high. "I'd love to do more prevention, but the question is how we'll find the funding for it."
Given the context, two sentences that contain the words 'Health and safety' and follow from the provided text could be:
"Ensuring health and safety is a crucial aspect in the implementation of the penalties for Cannabis Act breaches, as the consequences of drug abuse can have significant impacts on individuals' well-being."
"To promote health and safety, the Health Ministry is also focusing on drug prevention initiatives, particularly for teenagers, as their brains are still developing and the risk of psychosis or schizophrenia from cannabis consumption is higher at this age."
