On June 6, the German Bundestag (German federal parliament) voted to adjust the currently existing adult-use cannabis law, including changes to restrictions for driving and cannabis club associations.

The driving changes were made by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, which amended the country’s Road Traffic Act. The change included a new maximum THC blood content, which is now set at 3.5 nanograms per milliliter. Previously, the limit was set at one nanogram per milliliter. According to DW.com, this was done to create a restriction that is similar to the maximum alcohol blood content limit, which in Germany is 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.

Prior to adopting this amendment, Bundestag member Kirsten Kappert-Gonther posted online about the thought behind the decision. “Today we are deciding on changes to the #Cannabis law. This was agreed with the Federal Council to prevent a blockade. The THC limit in road traffic will be set at 3.5ng/ml. This is how we create security and prevent #criminalization through the back door,” Kappert-Gonther said on June 6. “To curb the black market, competitive, legal and safe offers are needed. #CannabisClubs are essential for this. They support #health and #youth protection.”

The first time that a person is found in violation of the THC blood content maximum, they will be banned from driving for one month and receive a €500 fine. If violations continue, the fine is increased to €1,000 and individuals will receive a two-year ban on driving.

Currently, the method of testing a driver’s impairment is done through a saliva test. If a driver appears to be impaired, even if a saliva test is negative, they will be instructed to take a blood test.

Another recent amendment includes changes to rules for cultivation. Starting next month, cooperatives, or clubs, will be allowed to sell cannabis to members, and the amendment limits the canopy size of those cooperatives. “The new draft of the #CannabisLaw takes the concerns of the states into account. We are expanding the evaluation, making the control of cultivation associations more flexible, enabling adjustments to grow hubs and promoting training for addiction prevention specialists.” said Kristine Lütke, an addiction and drug policy spokesperson for Free Democrats Group. “Cannabis clubs play a central role in this. They enable legal, communal cultivation and thus contribute to the successful legalization. This ensures health and youth protection.” Cannabis clubs can have a maximum of 500 members.

Germany’s first day of legal adult-use cannabis was on April 1, which allows adults over 18 to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public, or 50 grams at home. Although cannabis clubs can dispense cannabis to members, cannabis sales have not yet been implemented.

In December 2023, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told the German Bundestag that they were “currently examining” how to approach commercial sales, but there hasn’t been any solid plans announced yet. Kappert-Gonther spoke on June 7 about the necessity to get the ball rolling. “We need prevention and education instead of prohibition and ignorance!,” Kappert-Gonther said in a translation. “Unfortunately, the Union is often conspicuous by its ignorance. Criminalizing #cannabis, promoting alcohol and linking the increase in drug deaths to decriminalization lacks a clear #factual basis.”

Lütke also commented on the need to move forward. “It is now urgent that we move forward, as set out in the coalition agreement. The law on the second pillar with model projects for commercial supply chains to combat the black market and strengthen the cannabis economy must finally be presented,” Lütke said on social media. “On Sunday [June 9] there are elections to the EU Parliament: There must be a reform of EU law to enable the controlled legalisation of cannabis and independent drug policies in the member states. Freedom must apply throughout Europe!”

In April, the German state of Bavaria banned cannabis consumption at public festivals and inside beer gardens, which also extends to events like Oktoberfest. According to Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach, the decision was made for public safety. “Our aim is to limit cannabis consumption in public spaces,” said Gerlach. “That is important for health protection and especially for protecting children and young people.”

Bavarian government officials have expressed their opposition to cannabis legalization. Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder posted online that he wouldn’t let the state turn into a “stoner’s paradise.”

Earlier this year, legislator Tino Sorge said that he doesn’t believe that cannabis legalization is a method of protecting youth. “You’re asserting here in all seriousness as health minister … that we will curb consumption among children and young people with the legalization of further drugs,” Sorge told Lauterbach. “That’s the biggest nonsense I’ve ever heard.”

Germany was the third country in the European Union to legalize cannabis. The first was Malta in December 2021, followed by Luxembourg in June 2023.

The post Germany Bundestag Votes To Make Amendments to Cannabis Law first appeared on High Times.

The post Germany Bundestag Votes To Make Amendments to Cannabis Law appeared first on Paradise Found.

Medical cannabis is taking over Europe, as well as efforts to decriminalize cannabis in numerous countries and at local levels. In a pattern similar to what took place in the U.S., European nations are legalizing cannabis for medical or recreational purposes in a patchwork of new laws.

According to a May 16 press release from Victoria, Australia-based Biortica Agrimed, 21 out of 27 member states of the European Union (EU) legalized medical cannabis.

“The EU situation with respect to legalisation can best be described as fluid, but evolving positively,“ said Tom Varga, CEO of Biortica Agrimed. Biortica Agrimed is a vertically-integrated B2B company  preparing to list on the Australian Securities Exchange with an IPO.

The 27 EU countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Out of those, 21 countries—Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain—implemented laws to allow for the medical use of cannabis.

Out of those countries, the potential market in Germany is among the most exciting and where investors are circling the most at the current moment.

“Whilst EU law prohibits the commercial sale of cannabis, many countries are taking a more mature approach, and legalising, initially medicinal, and ultimately personal use, with Germany in the lead. 21 out of the 27 EU member states have legalised use of medicinal cannabis,” he said, “and 13 countries have either legalised or decriminalised its personal use.”

Countries like Spain have decriminalized cannabis, while Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, and Malta have taken steps to legalize adult-use. Countries like Portugal have gone even further by decriminalizing all drugs. Dozens more cities in the EU decriminalized cannabis at the city level.

Part of the purpose of Biortica Agrimed’s report is to support the argument that it’s due time Australia takes note of the potential Down Under. Australia legalized medical marijuana in 2016. According to Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) data, the number of patient approvals for medical cannabis increased sharply. In Australia, doctors can prescribe medicinal cannabis with the approval from the TGA and the relevant State or Territory’s Health Department.

“The EU comprises world class nations, and Australia should take any learnings that we can from the EU.” he said, “We have the benefit, and indeed the privilege, to view how legislative frameworks have been built over-seas, what’s worked and working, and what the Australian industry and legislators should avoid. Australia really can do better.”

“We look forward to continuing to share our global industry research with the Australian industry, our legislators and regulators, to build an industry that we can all be proud of, an industry that puts patient care, safety and outcomes to the fore, ” said Varga.

Cannabis Prevalence in Europe

Cannabis remains the most popular substance used in Europe according to the most recent counts by European data monitors.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s (EMCDDA) report, entitled “Cannabis—the current situation in Europe (European Drug Report 2023),” describes cannabis as “by far the most commonly consumed illicit drug in Europe.”

The report cites national surveys which show that 8% of European adults (out of approximately 22.6 million people between 15 and 64 years of age) have used cannabis within the last year. An estimated 1.3% of adults (approximately 3.7 million people) are described as “daily” or “almost daily” consumers.

With the popularity of cannabis continuing to grow, the report notes that this often leads to consumer “problems.” “There remains, however, a need to understand better the kinds of problems experienced by cannabis users, as well as the referral pathways and treatment options available for those with cannabis-related problems,” the report stated.

Germany’s legislation to legalize cannabis took effect on April 1. German lawmakers gave final approval to a recreational weed legalization plan known as CanG recently, making the country the largest in Europe to take the step.

In the German capital of Berlin, cannabis smokers gathered at the iconic Brandenberg Gate to smoke weed and celebrate their new freedoms. Other events were held throughout Europe’s most populous country, including one in front of the Cologne cathedral and others in the cities of Hamburg, Regensburg, and Dortmund.

The patchwork of laws unfolding in the EU show how medical and adult-use cannabis are popular on a global scale, and what Australia could learn from European countries.

The post Twenty-One of 27 European Union Countries Legalized Medical Cannabis, Report Highlights first appeared on High Times.

The post Twenty-One of 27 European Union Countries Legalized Medical Cannabis, Report Highlights appeared first on Paradise Found.

The groups that form Germany’s coalition government struck a deal last week on cannabis legalization, setting the stage for the new law to take effect in the spring. 

Now, the proposal will be considered by the country’s parliament, with a vote expected later this month.

Zeit, a German publication, reported last week that the “government coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP has agreed on the details of the legalization of cannabis,” and that the “law could come into force on April 1st, but must first be approved by the Bundestag and Bundesrat.” 

According to the outlet, Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s federal health minister, “is aiming for approval in parliament in the week from February 19th to 23rd.”

In a post on X last week, Lauterbach hailed the agreement by the groups within the coalition.

“The fight against the black market, decriminalization and better protection of minors will come as announced. The previous drug policy has failed, a new beginning,” Lauterbach said.

The agreement keeps the country on course that the so-called “Traffic Light coalition” laid out late last year. 

In November, the SPD, Greens and FDP said they had reached a breakthrough in their negotiations of the new cannabis law. 

“The #Cannabis law is coming! Finally: We are finally ending the failed ban policy! After intensive negotiations, there is now a law that focuses on youth and health protection, ends criminalization and is practical,” the Green Party’s spokesperson Kirsten Kappert-Gonther said in a post on social media at the time.

According to Forbes, the “path to legalization in Germany has encountered several hurdles,” including the coalition government having to “revise its plan, which initially involved the sale of cannabis, as it risked breaching EU laws.” Forbes reported that the coalition also “confronted criticism from opposition parties seeking to obstruct the proposed legislation,” as well as “internal dissent within the government, particularly from the SPD, emerged regarding the details of the bill.”

The outlet Legal Tribune Online said that the agreement last week signaled that “resistance from the ranks of the SPD parliamentary group against the Cannabis Act (CanG) has apparently been overcome.”

Late last year, Legal Tribune Online reported that “health politician Dirk Heidenblut MdB, who is responsible for the issue of cannabis in the SPD parliamentary group, announced over the weekend via social media that the final reading of the Cannabis Act (CanG), which was actually planned for the last week of the year, was taking place. does not come about.” 

“The reason: The leadership of his SPD parliamentary group expressed concerns about the set-up. The avowed legalization friend explained in a video that he could not understand this, but the implementation would now be postponed until next year. Heidenblut did not want to reveal any further details,” the outlet reported at the time. “The short-term veto of the SPD parliamentary group against the final resolution surprised not only the so-called cannabis community, but also the coalition partners.”

Kappert-Gonther said at the time that it was “extremely unfortunate that cannabis is not on the agenda so far,” and that passage of the reform “would have been possible.”

But last week’s agreement by the parties indicates that those disagreements have been resolved, and that Germany is now set to enter a new era of cannabis legalization.

In a statement, the leaders of the coalition said that the “regulations are a real milestone for a modern drug policy that strengthens prevention and improves health, child and youth protection,” as quoted by Legal Tribune Online.

According to Forbes, the agreement “clears the path for the legalization of cannabis for personal use, aligning with the impending vote,” and that, absent any additional delays, “Germany is poised to become the third European Union member state to legalize cannabis for personal use, following Malta and Luxembourg.”

“For the government coalition, the legalization of cannabis for personal use marks a significant milestone in modern drug policy, emphasizing prevention and improving health and child and youth protection,” Forbes reported. “However, the proposed legislation, introduced last year by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, may undergo additional slight revisions to address concerns raised by the SPD, potentially involving the expansion and acceleration of monitoring and reporting obligations related to the illicit market.”

Forbes said that lawmakers “recently revised the bill to ease restrictions opposed by advocates and supporters in the Bundestag,” with changes including “raising home possession limits and eliminating the possibility of jail time for slightly exceeding the possession limit.”

“The government coalition also plans to introduce a complementary measure establishing pilot programs for commercial sales, set to be revealed after submission to the European Commission,” Forbes said, adding that, if the proposal passes the parliament in the next two months as expected, the ban on pot will be lifted by April 1, and that adults will be able to “grow cannabis at home and possess small quantities, while cannabis clubs will be allowed from July 1.”

The post Germany’s Coalition Government Reaches Deal on Weed Legalization appeared first on High Times.

The post Germany’s Coalition Government Reaches Deal on Weed Legalization appeared first on Paradise Found.

Switzerland will allow Europe’s first non-medical cannabis dispensaries to open and operate as part of a study to examine how controlled access to legal cannabis may affect health and consumption patterns of regular cannabis consumers.

An announcement was made Friday about “Grashaus Projects” by German CBD and cannabinoid research company Sanity Group which said that in tandem with the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research, their initiative to dispense legal cannabis to a small area in Switzerland called Basel-Landschaft had been approved by the Swiss government. Basel-Landschaft is home to just under 4,000 Swiss citizens who are eligible to serve as participants in the study.

The study will be led by Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub, Scientific Director of the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research. The cannabis for the study will be provided by a Swiss cultivation company called SwissExtract and will include a variety of different cannabis mediums like flower, hash, extracts and so on. 

“Our claim is to provide high-quality products with high delivery reliability as the basis for a sound scientific study. We focus on organic quality, ‘Swissness’ and transparency,” said CEO of SwissExtract Stefan Strasser. “As only natural substances are used in the cultivation of our basic raw material, we guarantee pollutant-free products. The entire value chain is united under one roof with us – cultivation, processing and packaging take place exclusively in Switzerland; in addition, we document the production process from the plant seed to the end product. SwissExtract is a life’s work for us, with sincerity towards people and the environment.”

An initial store opening is planned for the fourth quarter of 2023 in Allschwil with a subsequent store opening planned a few months later in Liestal. The study is slated to last five years. Prof. Dr. Shaub explained in a written statement that the study will begin by determining the health and eligibility of their chosen participants, and then continue with regular medical checks and mental health checks as the study progresses.

“After an initial information event to educate about the trial and how to deal with cannabis, a medical aptitude test of the potential participant:s will follow, as well as an online entry survey. If successfully accepted into the study, cannabis can then be obtained legally at the point of sale for a limited time in the future with a participation card,” Prof. Dr. Shaub said. “Continuous surveys on consumption behavior and the physical and mental health of the participants will take place every three to six months,”

The results of the study will be used to determine what, if any, public health implications adult-use cannabis availability might inflict on Switzerland as well as the rest of Europe, the majority of which is bound by the laws of the European Union which Switzerland is not a part of. The EU has thus far maintained a stringent stance against the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Certain other countries like Germany and Spain have begun implementing loose framework to begin transitioning out of prohibition-era policies against cannabis but progress has been limited. 

Germany, for instance, allows for cultivation, possession and cannabis social clubs but not for legal sales. Leadership of the Grashaus Projects have expressed hope that this step toward legal cannabis sales in Europe will provide much-needed data that other countries can use to determine how they can best regulate cannabis sales, as well as to help provide patients resources for mental health or addiction problems should any arise as a result of adult-use cannabis sales.

“The insights gained from the study can contribute to an informed health policy discussion on the responsible use of cannabis and serve as a basis for decisions on long-term regulation,” said Prof. Dr. Schaub in a statement. “In addition, we want to investigate whether we can gain better access to high-risk users with, for example, mental health problems, in order to refer them to appropriate cantonal care centers.”

Switzerland has actually granted several Swiss cities individual approval to start their own pilot cannabis programs. Zurich, Basel, Biel/Bienne, Lucerne, Geneva and “Bern,” no pun intended, have all received approval in the last year to begin similar programs. According to a Forbes article, Zurich actually is still seeking 400 people to participate in its cannabis program because the area generally lacks cannabis consumers.

The post Swiss Dank Accounts: First Legal European Cannabis Dispensaries to Open in Switzerland appeared first on High Times.

The post Swiss Dank Accounts: First Legal European Cannabis Dispensaries to Open in Switzerland appeared first on Paradise Found.

The Netherlands government recently confirmed that it plans to start its pilot program on December 15 later this year. “The most recent planning shows that two legal growers are expected to be ready for delivery to coffee shops in the fourth quarter of 2023,” the Dutch government wrote. “This is sufficient to start the start-up phase of the experiment in Breda and Tilburg. In this phase, participating coffee shops from these municipalities may offer both legally grown and tolerated products. The next two growers are expected to start supplying coffee shops in Breda and Tilburg in February 2024.” Breda and Tilburg are located in the southern part of the country, near the border of Belgium.

The timeline for this program begins with a “start-up phase” that will last up to six months. “The initiative for the start-up phase was introduced by the mayors of Breda and Tilburg and embraced by Minister Ernst Kuipers of Health, Welfare and Sport and Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius of Justice and Security as an opportunity to start the experiment on a small scale around a legalized production and sales chain,” the government wrote.

The start-up phase is described as a sort of warm up time frame for businesses to adjust to the program, however the government notes that if “public order or safety is seriously threatened,” then they will stop the program prematurely. “The insights will be shared with all participating municipalities and used to improve processes and systems for a smooth transition phase,” the government stated.

After the start-up period ends, then the “transition phase” begins. “It is expected that all participating municipalities will be able to start the transition phase at the earliest at the end of the first quarter of 2024,” the government wrote. “In this transition phase, coffee shops in the participating municipalities may offer regulated products in addition to tolerated products.”

According to Forbes, there will be a six-week period where coffee shops can continue to obtain their cannabis products from illegal sources “while the new legal suppliers are phased in.” Following the transition phase, the experimental phase will begin. “From that moment on, participating coffee shop owners may only sell regulated cannabis,” the government added.

The Netherlands announced its plans for the pilot program years ago, and was intended to begin in 2020, but was delayed until 2022. In March 2022, the program received another delay, expecting the program to begin in Q2 2023. “Unfortunately, it has now become apparent that starting in 2022 is no longer realistic,” the letter stated last year. “The selection procedure of the remaining growers is taking longer than expected, and some growers are having trouble securing a location.”

Breda Mayor Paul Depla explained his disappointment that the program continued to be delayed. “It is clear that everyone who is in favor of the cannabis test is disappointed,” said Depla. Tilburg Mayor Theo Weterings also echoed his frustration. “Again delay—how much more can you delay. We expect that some MPs will now be scratching their heads, wondering: what is happening here?”

The Netherlands has never legalized cannabis, although it has long been associated with its “soft drugs” policy, called gedoogbeleid, which allows cannabis business owners to sell their product at coffee shops without being prosecuted. “Dutch coffeeshop policy has long been a subject of public debate. At the heart of the debate is the ambiguous status of cannabis: while the sale and use of cannabis for recreational purposes are tolerated, production and distribution are strictly prohibited,” the Netherlands government stated. “Under the current policy of toleration, selling and using are still criminal offences under Dutch law, but the authorities choose not to pursue or prosecute lawbreakers.”

Due to this policy, the number of coffee shops increased drastically. In 2007, data from Statista shared that an estimated 229 coffee shops were operating within the city of Amsterdam. The most recent data shows that 166 shops were operating, as of 2020. The Netherland government estimates that 570 coffee shops operate across the country’s 102 municipalities.

Amsterdam banned public consumption of cannabis in April 2018, and more recently a ban was also implemented in the Red Light District in May. The Amsterdam City Council approved the ban earlier in 2023. “Residents of the old town suffer a lot from mass tourism and alcohol and drug abuse in the streets,” the city council explained. “Tourists also attract street dealers who in turn cause crime and insecurity. The atmosphere can get grim especially at night. People who are under the influence hang around for a long time. Residents cannot sleep well and the neighborhood becomes unsafe and unlivable.” The city council added that the ban would “reduce nuisance.”

The Netherlands isn’t the only country to start implementing cannabis pilot programs. Fellow European Union (EU) country of Luxembourg, which recently legalized cannabis for personal use in June, began a pilot program to test out legal access to cannabis. Switzerland, which is not a part of the EU, began its own cannabis pilot program in January 2023.

The post The Netherlands Government Announced a Start Date for Cannabis Pilot Program appeared first on High Times.

The post The Netherlands Government Announced a Start Date for Cannabis Pilot Program appeared first on Paradise Found.

Germany took a major step toward marijuana reform on Wednesday when the country’s cabinet approved a bill that will liberalize its cannabis laws.

The approval comes a month after the country’s ministry of health released the draft bill of the new marijuana regulations.

After Wednesday, the measure still must be approved by the German parliament before it becomes law, but it marks a significant step.

As the Associated Press put it, the approval by the cabinet sets the stage “for the European Union’s most populous member to decriminalize possession of limited amounts and allow members of ‘cannabis clubs’ to buy the substance for recreational purposes.”

“The legislation is billed as the first step in a two-part plan and still needs approval by parliament. But the government’s approval is a stride forward for a prominent reform project of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s socially liberal coalition, though significantly short of its original ambitions,” the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. “The bill, which the government hopes will take effect at the end of this year, foresees legalizing possession of up to 25 grams (nearly 1 ounce) of cannabis for recreational purposes and allowing individuals to grow up to three plants on their own.”

According to the AP, German residents “who are 18 and older would be allowed to join nonprofit ‘cannabis clubs’ with a maximum 500 members each,” while the “clubs would be allowed to grow cannabis for members’ personal consumption.”

The reform effort has been months in the making, with German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach spearheading the charge.

“This is an important law that will represent a long-term change in drug policy,” Lauterbach said on Wednesday, as quoted by The New York Times.

In April, Lauterbach and other German officials unveiled a decidedly more scaled-back cannabis reform proposal than what was originally envisioned.

The original proposal, announced by Lauterbach last fall, “foresaw allowing the sale of cannabis to adults across the country at licensed outlets,” the Associated Press reported. 

The revisions to the cannabis proposal came after German officials met with the European Union. EU laws are always bound to be a potential impediment to the reform effort.

German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said that European law “sets us limits we must respect, but that I will also say we are pushing,” as quoted by the Associated Press.

Still, the reform is significant for what is Europe’s largest economy.

The New York Times has more background on how the weaker measure arrived before the cabinet on Wednesday, and all the obstacles it overcame along the way:

“The socially liberal coalition announced its intent to legalize recreational marijuana when it came into power in 2021, quickly finding consensus on an issue opposed for years by the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel. But implementation has proved difficult. A version of the plan introduced last year by Mr. Lauterbach would have allowed the distribution of marijuana through commercial stores. That idea was scuttled after meeting resistance from the European Union’s executive arm, the European Commission. Instead, the legislation approved on Wednesday allows distribution through the creation of licensed private cultivation associations with no more than 500 members. Members would be allowed to buy up to 25 grams — slightly less than an ounce — on any one day, but with a limit of 50 grams in a month. The German government also plans to launch a series of regional pilot programs that would allow the sale of cannabis through a small number of licensed specialty shops, in an attempt to gather more information about the effects of allowing individuals to purchase marijuana commercially.”

The post German Cabinet Approves Plan To Liberalize Pot Laws appeared first on High Times.

The post German Cabinet Approves Plan To Liberalize Pot Laws appeared first on Paradise Found.

In the Mediterranean island of Malta, one man who was caught with cannabis 15 years ago and recently saw his case come to an end.

In June 2008, Conray Azzopardi’s apartment was raided by local police. According to Times Malta, he attempted to escape, and dropped “a bag containing cannabis wrapped in individual packets.” Police also found €250 (or approximately US$264). Azzopardi was charged for possession with the intent to traffic drugs.

According to a translated court document published on December 28, 2018, which covered the extent of Azzopardi’s case, ending with a conclusion from Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras sentencing Azzopardi to one year in prison and a fine of €1,000 (USD$1,096).

However, Azzopardi and his legal counsel appealed the decision, and five years later both the Malta Drug Offenders Rehabilitation Board and Caritas Malta (an organization that supports inmates who are imprisoned for crimes related to addiction) made recommendations in support of Azzopardi following the conclusion of his rehabilitation program.

The Drug Offenders Rehabilitation Board closed his case after he successfully completed his care plan. Azzopardi sought to apply for medical cannabis to treat undisclosed conditions but was rejected. The board added that if an individual receives treatment from a detox or rehabilitation center, they are no longer eligible for medical cannabis. Ultimately it recommended that Azzopardi be given assistance so that he wouldn’t resort to consuming illegal substances.

Appeals court Judge Neville Camilleri reviewed the recommendations of the Drug Offenders Rehabilitation Board and Caritas Malta and ruled that Azzopardi’s one-year prison sentence be overturned, and that, instead, he undergo a two-year probation order.

Medical cannabis has been legal in Malta since March 2018, and it became the first country in the European Union to legalize recreational cannabis in October 2021.

Azzopardi’s legal defense counsel included lawyers Franco Debono and Francesca Zarb. In November 2022, Debono posted about the state of cannabis on Facebook, noting the lack of progress for cannabis sales. “As far as I know, there aren’t any legal outlets from where one buy cannabis, which would mean that Malta is the only country in the world where you can possess cannabis but cannot purchase it legally,” Debono wrote. “I hope the government understands the gravity and the ugliness of this situation and how much responsibility should be shouldered.”

The Maltese Cannabis Authority released the details of opening a cannabis club in February 2023, and began accepting applications as of February 28, according to El Planteo.

In May 2023, Malta Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg and leader of the Malta Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) spoke at a press conference covering new rules regarding non-profit associations who want to obtain a cultivation or distribution license for non-medical purposes.

However, cannabis business owner Andrew Bonello, who is president of ReLeaf Malta, told Business of Cannabis that ATUC is treating “cannabis like plutonium” and that more action is necessary to get the ball rolling.

“While it is positive to see totally unnecessary costs being reviewed, the overall effectiveness of the ‘fine-tuned’ regulations is yet to be seen,” Bonello said. “Many of the grassroots community and legacy growers are still finding it next to impossible to be able to set up an Association. One wonders how the aims of tackling the illicit market and implementing social justice can be achieved when the needs of those who fought for this reform are being ignored.”

As of May, there were only seven associations that had submitted applications, and 11 that had reserved the association name. Bonello stated that he expected more associations to have submitted applications and would already be operating by now. “However, we augur that the core principles of the reform are respected, acting in the best interest of the community with efforts genuinely focused on addressing social justice and human rights,” Bonello said.

The post A 15-Year Court Case Recently Came to an End for Maltese Cannabis Consumer appeared first on High Times.

The post A 15-Year Court Case Recently Came to an End for Maltese Cannabis Consumer appeared first on Paradise Found.

Germany continues to inch closer to a new era of cannabis legalization. 

Last week, the country’s ministry of health unveiled a draft bill providing details on new regulations for personal use and cultivation of marijuana. 

It has been a longtime coming for Europe’s largest economy, with German policymakers driving to reform the country’s cannabis laws for the last year.

The release of the draft bill, the ministry of health explained, is one part of a “two-pillar model” to “legalize private cultivation by adults for personal consumption as well as communal, non-commercial cultivation of cannabis in cultivation associations.”

According to Forbes, under the draft bill, “adults aged 18 and above will be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use and cultivate a maximum of three plants.”

“However, the consumption of cannabis in the ‘immediate vicinity’ of individuals under 18, within a 200-meter radius of schools, children’s and youth facilities, playgrounds, publicly accessible sports facilities, and pedestrian zones between 7 am and 8 pm, will remain prohibited. It’s important to note that fines and criminal charges will continue to be imposed for specific unlawful activities,” Forbes reported.

In addition, the outlet noted that the “proposed legislation allows an association to accept up to 500 members,” with each “member belonging to the association … eligible to receive either 25 grams per day or 50 grams per month for personal use.” 

In April, following meetings between German leaders and European Union officials, the country signaled that its cannabis reform would be significantly scaled back from the initial aspirations.

The Associated Press reported at the time that the “German government revised the plan following talks with the European Union’s executive commission.”

German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said EU law “sets us limits we must respect, but that I will also say we are pushing,” as quoted by the Associated Press at the time.

“Lauterbach had cautioned all along that the government would only proceed with its original plan if it got the green light from the EU,” according to the AP. “Germany has allowed some patients to get cannabis as a prescription medication since 2017.”

In a primer posted on its website, the German Ministry of Health explained what will happen next in the draft bill’s road to becoming law.

“It is planned to pass the draft law in the federal cabinet during the summer break. The draft law will then be introduced into the parliamentary legislative process and discussed in both the German Bundestag and the Bundesrat in the autumn. The German Bundestag is responsible for the final decision on the law,” the government agency explained. “The law does not require the approval of the Bundesrat. It is scheduled to come into force at the end of 2023. Once the bill comes into force, adults can legally smoke a joint in Germany under the proposed law. Until then, cannabis will remain prohibited.”

The ministry also explained why the German government decided to reform its cannabis laws.

“In the opinion of the federal government, the current drug policy on cannabis use is reaching its limits. Despite the ban on its purchase and possession, cannabis is widely used and use has increased in recent years,” the agency explained. “The consumption of cannabis, which is obtained from the black market, is often associated with an increased health risk, since the THC-The content is unknown and may contain toxic admixtures, impurities and synthetic cannabinoids whose potency cannot be estimated by the consumer. The law aims to contribute to improved health protection, strengthen cannabis-related education and prevention, curb organized drug crime and strengthen child and youth protection. To protect consumers, the quality of consumer cannabis should be controlled and the transfer of contaminated substances should be prevented. Incentives to expand cannabis use should not be created.”

The post Germany Releases Draft Bill For Cannabis Legalization appeared first on High Times.

The post Germany Releases Draft Bill For Cannabis Legalization appeared first on Paradise Found.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s (EMCDDA) report, entitled “Cannabis—the current situation in Europe (European Drug Report 2023),” describes cannabis as “by far the most commonly consumed illicit drug in Europe.”

The report cites national surveys which show that 8% of European adults (out of approximately 22.6 million people between 15 and 64 years of age) have used cannabis within the last year. An estimated 1.3% of adults (approximately 3.7 million people) are described as “daily” or “almost daily” consumers.

With the popularity of cannabis continuing to grow, the report notes that this often leads to consumer “problems.” “There remains, however, a need to understand better the kinds of problems experienced by cannabis users, as well as the referral pathways and treatment options available for those with cannabis-related problems,” the report stated.

The report adds that in data featured in the 2021 European Web Survey on Drugs, 95% of participants who use cannabis within the last 12 months, 32% chose to consume “resin,” 25% chose edibles, and 17% preferred extracts. In the European Union (EU), tested resin contained 20% THC, whereas flower was tested at 9.5% THC. 

The EMCDDA claims that 97,000 people entered drug treatment programs for “problems related to cannabis use” in 2021, with 55,000 of those people doing so for the first time.

Additionally, records of cannabis product seizures in 2021 also reached its highest point in more than 10 years. The report cites Spain as the country with the highest percent of cannabis product seizures at 66%.

Overall, the EU reportedly seized more than 202,000 cannabis resin products (equating the seizures to 816 tonnes, or 1,798,972 pounds) in 2021. Cannabis flower seizures were recorded at 256 tonnes (or 564,383 pounds). In the country of Turkey alone, 9,800 seizures for cannabis resin products yielded 33 tonnes (or 72,752 pounds) and 31 tonnes (or 68,343 pounds) of cannabis flower.

“There is an increasing diversity of cannabis products available in Europe. This is true both for the illicit drug market and for consumer markets, where products are appearing that contain low levels of THC but also other substances derived from the cannabis plant such as CBD,” the EMCDDA wrote. “On the illicit drug market, the availability of high-potency extracts and edibles is a particular concern and has been linked to acute toxicity presentations in hospital emergency departments.” 

The report also cited concerns for the synthetic cannabinoid hexahydrocannabinol that has recently become available in certain EU countries.

The EU is made up of 27 countries, some of which have enacted medical or recreational cannabis legalization to help prevent the black market from thriving.

In December 2021, Malta was the first EU country to legalize recreational cannabis. The country’s approach to regulating possession, cultivation, and sales, Malta allows for residents to possess seven grams of cannabis in public (or up to 50 grams at their personal residence), as well as up to four plants cultivated at home.

More recently, German officials have been hard at work developing a regulatory framework for cannabis legalization. In April 2023, the newest draft reflects the use of state-controlled non-profit social clubs. If passed, it would allow residents at least 18 years or older to purchase up to 25 grams of cannabis per day (or up to 50 grams per month). Those who are 18-21 years old would be limited to just 30 grams per month.

Other EU countries are also currently working on their own versions of legalization, including Luxembourg, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. 

Switzerland on the other hand is currently allowing numerous cannabis research trial pilot programs in certain parts of the country. The SCRIPT study, which is conducted by the University of Bern, doesn’t legalize cannabis but was created to examine the “health and social effects” of regulated cannabis at local pharmacies. “Our study therefore does not aim to legalize cannabis in the free market—but to be able to address the problems caused by prohibition and the black market and to test possible harm reduction approaches, as well as a strict control of supply and distribution use demand for cannabis,” said head of SCRIPT researcher Reto Auer.

The post Recent Report Finds Cannabis as Most Used Substance in Europe appeared first on High Times.

The post Recent Report Finds Cannabis as Most Used Substance in Europe appeared first on Paradise Found.

Germany‘s cannabis liberalization plans will not be as comprehensive as folks hoped. At least for now, Amsterdam-style coffee shops may be a pipe dream after talks with the EU. Instead, the Associated Press reports that the watered-down plan will use state-controlled non-profit social clubs. If you’re a German resident at least 18 years old, you can join one and purchase up to 25 grams per day (or up to 50 grams per month). However, if you’re in the 18-21 age bracket, that figure is limited to 30 grams for adults under age 21. 

Germany has allowed the sale of cannabis for medical patients since 2017. The cannabis liberalization plan is one of many social reform projects proposed by socially liberal German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition planned to instate when taking office in December 2021.

Additionally, these cannabis clubs have a set maximum of 500 members each. The clubs can grow their own cannabis for their members to enjoy. Individuals can also grow, but it is limited to three plants per person. You’re only allowed to join one club, and authorities can limit the number of clubs that exist. The clubs’ expenses will be covered by membership fees, on a sliding scale, depending on how much cannabis the members use.

German officials also plan to set up regional test projects to sell cannabis through “commercial supply chains,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said. The finished proposal is a watered-down one that was initially proposed in October, which would allow the sale of cannabis to adults all across the country at licensed ships.

German ministers say that the scaled-back plan for liberalization results from restrictions established by the EU. Not everyone is ready to embrace the brave new world of cannabis legalization. Just as it is across the pond in the U.S., Conservative politicians oppose cannabis liberalization, saying loosening restrictions is dangerous, the BBC reports. For example, the Bavarian Premier Markus Söder tweeted that legalizing drugs was “simply the wrong path to go down,” adding that “drug clubs” did not solve any problems but created new ones. As a result, in a relatable outcome, Germany had to compromise. 

While Germany’s new cannabis plan is not a pro-cannabis advocate’s ideal outcome, it’s still a big step in the right direction. Twenty-five grams is nearly an ounce of cannabis. The intention of liberalizing Germany’s cannabis laws is to try and stop the black market. However, the country would be advised to look at places such as California, where the illegal market continues to flourish due to government red tape and high entry barriers into the legal market. If any country or state truly wants to eliminate illicit weed, it would be best served to create a realistic plan that meets consumers’ desires. 

The scaled-back plan comes after meetings with the European Union’s (EU) executive commission. The Associated Press reports that Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir said EU law “sets us limits we must respect, but that I will also say we are pushing.” Özdemir also noted that the draft of the legislation will be finalized this month and that “consumption will become legal this year already.” The next step is to implement five-year tests of regulated commercial supply chains in select regions which remain to be chosen. 

The plans still need to obtain the approval of the German parliament’s lower house (officials said an endorsement is unnecessary from the upper house). That chamber represents Germany’s 16 state governments, including the country’s primary and more conservative center-right opposition bloc, which opposes liberalizing cannabis laws. However, the health minister argued that Germany’s existing policies have failed and added that their goal is to create safer products. “We are not creating a problem,” Lauterbach said. “We are trying to solve a problem.”

The post Germany Waters Down Cannabis Liberalization After EU Meeting appeared first on High Times.

The post Germany Waters Down Cannabis Liberalization After EU Meeting appeared first on Paradise Found.