As elections loom, Germany may be the next country to legalize recreational marijuana.
While the German Federal Government legalized medical cannabis in 2017, smoking recreationally is still not government sanctioned. A new bill from the Green Party might change that soon, though.
The potential change in legislation is of course big news for the four million Germans who use marijuana illegally.
The elections will take place on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Read on to understand where the main parties in Parliament stand on marijuana legalization.
The Green Party (Die Grünen)
It’s very fitting that the Green Party is leading the way forward with cannabis legalization. The Greens are the only party who have drafted comprehensive legislation in favor of recreational marijuana.
The Green Party wants to pass a bill that will “put an end to the informal cannabis market and to push back organized crime.” This philosophy is reflected across much of Europe also, including Italy.
The new drug policy would allow authorized stores to sell cannabis plants. Under these regulations, it would be legal to carry 30 grams of cannabis, which is a little over one ounce. Additionally, it would be legal to grow up to three cannabis plants for personal use.
Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands)
In 2020, The Social Democratic Party (SPD) declared that they supported the decriminalization of cannabis for personal use.
The SPD also recommended that Germany utilize pilot programs to allow the legal and regulated distribution of marijuana plants to patients. However, the SPD has already contradicted itself. In October 2020, they voted against a bill that would legalize marijuana.
Christian Democratic Union (Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands)
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, has a more conservative approach to legalizing marijuana.
Even though members of the CDU have made references to utilizing a pilot program for cannabis trials, they also voted against legalization in 2020.
Alternative For Germany (Alternative für Deutschland)
Alternative For Germany (AfD), a right-wing nationalist party, refused to say anything about their stance on the new bill. However, they’ve previously stated that they have no intention of legalizing cannabis.
Germans Remain Hopeful that Recreational Marijuana Will be Legalized Soon
Despite how many parties have voted in the past, there’s optimism in the air for the 2021 elections.
“It is clear that in Germany the discussion about cannabis reform is happening more often and gaining momentum, with most political parties now in favor of some kind of liberalization.”
Jürgen Neumeyer, Managing Director of the German Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW)
It seems that it may be only a matter of time before Germany joins the growing list of countries to legalize recreational marijuana.
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