Is cannabis becoming legal? – Things are happening in Europe

With an amended narcotics law, cannabis with a higher THC content is now to be removed from the prohibition zone. Its cultivation, production, trade, and consumption are to be comprehensively re-regulated and legalized by Parliament, as was heard from the Secretariat of the Commissions for Social Security and Health in the Council of States last October. Now, the National Council is tasked with drafting a law for the decriminalization of cannabis.

„Züri Can – Cannabis with Responsibility“

Several major cities will start selling cannabis for recreational purposes in pilot projects from 2022. In Zurich, for example, pharmacies and clubs can register as project participants and include cannabis in their offerings starting this year. In Basel, sales in pharmacies are also set to begin in mid-2022 – always in collaboration with scientists, as politics needs the collected experiences as a viable foundation for future legal regulations.

Cannabis Hotspot in the Heart of Europe?

The approach to hemp has always been more relaxed in Switzerland and legally less strict compared to the rest of the EU. There is an awareness of the enormous potential of the plant, and interest in the cannabis business is huge. Daniel Haymann, head of the first cannabis department of a major Swiss law firm founded in 2019, is convinced that his country could take a pioneering role not only in Europe but also globally. There is no shortage of investors, and capital is comparatively easy to access in large quantities. The financiers are ready, according to Haymann, not cannabis users but established managers and board members of publicly traded companies. Even though access to the market is currently still difficult due to a lack of legal clarity, they are not only providing capital but are also founding companies themselves that deal with hemp cultivation and the production of hemp products.

Host of the International Cannabis Business Conference

At the end of August last year, high-ranking players in the European cannabis industry gathered at the "Dolder Grand" in Zurich for the Global Investment Forum, and shortly thereafter, the B2B fair “Cannabis Business Expo” took place in Oerlikon. To stay ahead of the game, obstructive hurdles must be removed. For the developers in the industry and their providers in Switzerland, this includes, for example, the lack of planning and legal certainty, as cannabis products are still handled very differently at the cantonal level.

Spirit of Change in Germany – Cannabis Legalization on the Horizon

Opinions on hemp are still divided, but the newly elected federal government from the SPD, Greens, and FDP last autumn is venturing into its legalization in Germany. The parties have agreed in their coalition agreement to introduce a controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops. Furthermore, it states that this will “control quality, prevent the distribution of contaminated substances, and ensure youth protection”. After four years, the law will be evaluated for its societal impacts. Additionally, models for drug checking, meaning testing drugs for contaminants, and harm reduction measures will be enabled and expanded. Until the first cannabis flowers are legally sold over the counter, there will certainly be controversial discussions among supporters, skeptics, and opponents of legalization! But in Berlin, movement is happening in the hemp topic, as can be gleaned from the media in early May. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has shifted from his previously negative position on cannabis legalization and announced a draft law for the second half of the year. There will be a “thorough consultation process” with the Ministry of Health and other departments beforehand. Federal Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert emphasizes the importance of consolidating knowledge and experiences while also allowing for an open dialogue with critical voices. For this purpose, countries, municipalities, associations, academia, and civil society will be involved, as the topic is multifaceted. And for a solid draft law, important questions regarding health protection, cannabis cultivation, supply chains, and taxation need to be clarified. Looking beyond the borders, for example, at experiences in Canada, can be helpful. There, politics decided in 2018 to legalize cannabis to regulate the business and bring it out of illegality. The goal is also set for us, and the path is clear for significantly more opportunities for the hemp plant, associated with a hopefully more liberal and at the same time responsible approach to cannabis.

Sources:
Cannabis will be legally sold in Switzerland from 2022 (msn.com)
Bilanz | The Swiss Business Magazine | BILANZ (handelszeitung.ch)
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/ampel-koalitionsvertrag-1.5472246
Controlled release of cannabis is getting closer (msn.com)

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