Lauterbach to release cannabis risk campaign ahead of legalisation

As Germany warms up for legalisation by the end of 2023, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has announced that the government will release a campaign warning the public of the health risks that come with cannabis consumption.

Lauterbach announces marijuana risk campaign

Karl Lauterbach has announced that the German government will release a public health campaign ahead of the country legalising cannabis. The campaign will warn citizens about the risks that come with marijuana consumption.

“I want to make sure that we reduce consumption among young people and that it is safer for those who do consume it,” Lauterbach told the Rheinische Post. 

Lauterbach warned that cannabis has the potential to do long-term harm to the brain when the organ is still developing. “The brain continues to develop until the 25th year of life. Those who consume marijuana in the years before do particular harm to themselves,” the minister added.

Unnamed law changes still to be made before weed legalisation

Lauterbach and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir have already provided a somewhat detailed outline of what the new rules will be when legalisation arrives. If all goes to plan, by the end of 2023 the government will have established so-called Cannabis Social Clubs as part of the law’s first speedy pillar, the Schnellesäule. A second pillar, which includes creating commercial supply chains in test regions has been planned but has a less certain timeline.

Speaking to Rheinische Post, Lauterbach said that “further minor changes” must be made before the law can be passed, but refused to give any further details about what those changes may be.

Given Lauterbach's announcement, one such change could be related to the designated amounts of weed that young people will be able to buy within legal limits. The current draft law states that anyone over 18 will be able to buy and carry up to 30 grams of Genusscannabis (recreational cannabis) without facing any criminal punishment by the police. 

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