BERLIN -- Germany is poised to become the first G-20 nation and European Union member to legalize recreational marijuana, but some conservative politicians, doctors, and police are warning it could encourage drug use among young adults. The country's health minister unveiled a plan Wednesday that would allow adults to grow and purchase cannabis in non-profit "cannabis social clubs" limited to 500 members each. It would also decriminalize possession of up to 30 grams (about 1 ounce) of the drug and allow people to legally smoke marijuana in private places, including hotels.
The minister, who is a member of the center-left coalition government of chancellor Olaf Scholz, called it "a turning point in our attitude towards drugs." He said the new measures, which are expected to take effect after four years, will reduce crime and ease the burden on law enforcement agencies and public health services.
But many of the details remain unclear, and the government wants to make sure its plan is compatible with EU laws before moving ahead. "We want to be able to check whether the planned legislation is in line with European regulations and proceed only if this is the case," said health minister Karl Lauterbach.
The German Medical Association says the government should limit sales of recreational marijuana to people 21 and older, because it is more likely to be abused by underage users. The group also wants to require retailers to keep the pot away from schools and youth centers. The German Pharmaceuticals Association says the government should also regulate the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content of marijuana sold, because strains with high THC levels can lead to psychotic reactions in some people.
Some critics are worried that the measures will increase marijuana consumption in a society already struggling with drug abuse and addiction. In a nation of 83 million, 4 million Germans -- most of them 18- to 24-year-olds -- used the drug last year, according to government statistics. That compares with an average of 2.5 million uses per person in the United States and almost 3 million in Canada.
And if Berlin moves forward, it risks running afoul of the 1961 U.N. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The convention forbids countries from allowing the cultivation and sale of Cannabis for sale Germany for any purpose other than medicinal or scientific. That means if Germany legalizes recreational marijuana, it may face sanctions from the International Narcotics Control Board.
In order to get around that hurdle, it could withdraw from the convention, which takes a year or longer, or ignore it, as Canada has done. Neither option is particularly appealing.
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