The coalition government’s promise to legalise recreational use of cannabis in Germany by 1 April is under threat due to internal opposition within the ruling SPD, with high-ranking members speaking out publicly against it while others say they are sticking to the plan.
The bill was a project of Germany’s self-proclaimed “progressive coalition”. However, SPD of Chancellor Olaf Scholz launched a revolt against the ambitious plans, with key figures saying they would not vote in favour of the law at the moment – effectively putting it on hold.
Infighting in the SPD seems to be increasing, with the party giving mixed messages on the issue.
On Wednesday, SPD group manager Katja Mast emphasised that the cannabis law will pass the Bundestag “in the near future”. “We are sticking to this,” she told dpa.
However, the party’s criminal policy spokesman, Sebastian Fiedler, only hours later, refuted these claims.
“Naturally, talks are being held on the cannabis law. I still hope they will lead to the realisation that this law must not be passed under any circumstances,” Fiedler told Rheinische Post.
And according to Fiedler, he is not alone in his opposition.
“I know a large number of colleagues in my parliamentary group who share this view,” he stated.
For Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), who has been a strong supporter of the bill, the opposition to the legalisation out of his party is especially unwelcome.
Now, an internal report by the Federal Criminal Police Office from December came to light, which states that “the law enforcement and regulatory authorities of the federal states will be faced with additional tasks and expenses,” and road safety issues may increase.
The report was requested by the Conference of Justice Ministers. Kathrin Wahlmann, justice minister of Lower Saxony, currently heading the conference, has spoken out against the legalisation.
“I warn against suggesting that cannabis is harmless just because possession in certain quantities is likely to be unpunishable,” she told Legal Tribune Online.
The Interior Ministry of Nancy Faeser, while not officially being against it, also cast doubts on the new law, stating that there “are classic safety arguments against it,” Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.
(Kjeld Neubert | Euractiv.de)
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