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The cannabis law has not even been in force for two months, but is already due to be changed. The traffic light is thus responding to criticism from the states. This is planned:
Valid since April 1st Cannabis law should be adjusted again. The background is a promise made by the federal government around Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) to the states. On the sidelines of the decisive Federal Council vote on the law, the federal government made a statement for the minutes. In it she promised several changes, for example in the protection of minors or with regard to cultivation associations and cannabis clubs.
Now there is a “draft law to amend the consumer cannabis law and the medical cannabis law”. The twelve-page document is there IPPEN.MEDIA and is to be discussed in the Bundestag on May 16th so that it can come into force on July 1st – as announced in the minutes. Most adjustments are marginal, such as replacing an “and” with a “comma.” The clubs are particularly affected, but little has changed for recreational stoners. An overview of the planned adjustments:
Federal government wants to change the cannabis law: That is planned
- Evaluation of the general possession amounts and the amounts passed on in clubs by October 1, 2025. To date, the amounts of possession at home are 25 grams or 50 grams and the amounts passed on in clubs are 30 (up to 21 years) or 50 grams per month. So there could be changes here again. However, no changes are planned immediately.
- Stricter rules for clubs. Ban on pooling resources. This means: One person cannot be responsible for several areas in the cannabis club.
- Easier ways to revoke grow club permissions. For example, if you are “in close proximity” to other clubs.
- Club inspections by authorities are no longer “annual” but “regular”.
- There should be a “continuing training program for addiction prevention specialists on cannabis”. The Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) should be responsible for this.
Cannabis lobby criticizes adjustments – and predicts “wave of lawsuits”
The Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW) criticizes the adjustments. The association, which is listed in the lobby register, commissioned a legal report from a Munich law firm – “with the request for a neutral assessment”. Accordingly, some of the adjustments are even unconstitutional because, as it is said, they interfere with the “private autonomy of the clubs”.
If the plans are implemented, “the influence of organized crime could grow significantly with the additional restrictions on legal business opportunities,” the association reports. That means the black market is taking over again. “A wave of lawsuits from cannabis cultivation associations and their service providers is also to be expected, which will likely lead to a burden on the administrative courts and a lack of legal certainty for all players.”
THC limit value in road traffic should be adjusted
In addition to these adjustments, it is also about changing the THC limit when driving. This aspect is currently missing from the law, which critics see as a ban through the back door. The coalition is therefore planning a draft law “to amend the Road Traffic Act and other road traffic regulations”. The draft is not yet available. However, it is likely that the coalition will set a limit of 3.5 nanograms of the active ingredient THC in hemp per milliliter of blood serum. A commission of experts recently recommended this value.
“The value is conservative and corresponds to the effect of around 0.2 per mille of alcohol,” said Lauterbach. The CSU sees it completely differently – and wants a zero-tolerance limit. “We are calling for a general driving ban for stoned people,” explains transport politician Martina Englhardt- Kopf Merkur.de. (as)
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