3 ms·

The planned Cannabis legalization by the same health minister also kind of goes in the same direction. From what I understand only homegrown Cannabis can be sol

The planned Cannabis legalization by the same health minister also kind of goes in the same direction. From what I understand only homegrown Cannabis can be sold and that only by privately organized clubs with very limited permanent member numbers. Also the number of plants one can grow is limited. It is designed to keep professionally produced Cannabis out of the legal market. If this legalization can shut down the illegal market is doubtful in my opinion.

tfourb 3y ago
According to the plans (not actually law yet): - private citizens will be able to grow a limited number (I think 5?) of plants, with the produce used only for their own consumption. Passing it to others will still be illegal (though consuming it with others on private property would be very unlikely to be prosecuted). - non-profit "Cannabis Clubs" can grow a limited number of plants per member (again, I think 5). Membership is limited to max 500 and members have to be 18+ years old. Clubs can't be near playgrounds/schools/etc. and can only hand out a limited amount (I think 30g) per month to each member, who can't consume it on or near the club's property. The weed also is limited to a max THC and the club's properties have to be secured to a high standard.
- account42 3y ago
  Very German to make up completely arbitrary rules like this rather than just legalizing it outright.
  - tfourb 3y ago
    There are valid considerations at play regarding keeping weed away from minors. There is also a legal issue because Cannabis is still classed as a controlled drug by the European Union and all-out legalization is not something that the German government can actually decide without corresponding EU-wide legalization. And that won't happen, because there are still a number of EU-member states that firmly oppose legalization.
ajmurmann 3y ago
What's the reasoning behind that approach? If the drug is considered dangerous, why is it less dangerous when I grow it myself rather than have a professional do it?
- weinzierl 3y ago
  My personal opinion is that it is twofold: 1. Before the election the now ruling parties promised legalization. Now they're under pressure to do it but fear the backlash, so they make a law but sabotage it at the same time. 2. They want to separate the legal market from the illegal market to avoid any situation where the new law could support professional producers. In principle this is a good idea but probably futile.
  - ajmurmann 3y ago
    I don't understand the second point. Wouldn't the legal market quickly kill the illegal market? We don't have an illegal market for chocolate or beer because the legal market fills the need. What am I missing?
    - weinzierl 3y ago
      Not if the rules make the legal market cumbersome to access. Especially since you have only access to the legal market by becoming a member of a club you'll give up completely on privacy. And if the legal market will have better prices is yet to be seen, again with all the additional restrictions I hardly see that happen in the medium and long run.
      - ajmurmann 3y ago
        Definitely! Even less reason to have these weird rules.

tfourb 3y ago

According to the plans (not actually law yet): - private citizens will be able to grow a limited number (I think 5?) of plants, with the produce used only for their own consumption. Passing it to others will still be illegal (though consuming it with others on private property would be very unlikely to be prosecuted). - non-profit "Cannabis Clubs" can grow a limited number of plants per member (again, I think 5). Membership is limited to max 500 and members have to be 18+ years old. Clubs can't be near playgrounds/schools/etc. and can only hand out a limited amount (I think 30g) per month to each member, who can't consume it on or near the club's property. The weed also is limited to a max THC and the club's properties have to be secured to a high standard.

account42 3y ago
Very German to make up completely arbitrary rules like this rather than just legalizing it outright.
- tfourb 3y ago
  There are valid considerations at play regarding keeping weed away from minors. There is also a legal issue because Cannabis is still classed as a controlled drug by the European Union and all-out legalization is not something that the German government can actually decide without corresponding EU-wide legalization. And that won't happen, because there are still a number of EU-member states that firmly oppose legalization.

ajmurmann 3y ago

What's the reasoning behind that approach? If the drug is considered dangerous, why is it less dangerous when I grow it myself rather than have a professional do it?

weinzierl 3y ago
My personal opinion is that it is twofold: 1. Before the election the now ruling parties promised legalization. Now they're under pressure to do it but fear the backlash, so they make a law but sabotage it at the same time. 2. They want to separate the legal market from the illegal market to avoid any situation where the new law could support professional producers. In principle this is a good idea but probably futile.
- ajmurmann 3y ago
  I don't understand the second point. Wouldn't the legal market quickly kill the illegal market? We don't have an illegal market for chocolate or beer because the legal market fills the need. What am I missing?
  - weinzierl 3y ago
    Not if the rules make the legal market cumbersome to access. Especially since you have only access to the legal market by becoming a member of a club you'll give up completely on privacy. And if the legal market will have better prices is yet to be seen, again with all the additional restrictions I hardly see that happen in the medium and long run.
    - ajmurmann 3y ago
      Definitely! Even less reason to have these weird rules.