A German police association is calling for the decriminalization of cannabis throughout the nation, and André Schulz, the head of the organization, predicts that “cannabis will not be banned for long in Germany,” according to a report from The Local.
“The prohibition of cannabis has historically been seen as arbitrary and has not yet been implemented in an intelligent and effective manner. In the history of mankind there has never been a society without the use of drugs; this is something that has to be accepted.” – Schulz, head of the Association of Criminal Officers, to the Bild newspaper via The Local
Schulz suggested that officials should focus on education for consumers and youth but said that driving under the influence of cannabis should remain outlawed, noting that, under current law, there are “uncertainties and loopholes” between laws for driving while impaired by cannabis versus alcohol. According to the report, Germans can have their licenses revoked if passengers are caught with cannabis in their vehicle, while only drivers can be punished for consuming alcohol and driving. The report notes that German courts do not have a consensus on how much cannabis can be consumed before a driver is deemed impaired.
Could legalization be on the horizon? In March, Germany implemented a more broad and comprehensive medical cannabis regime which has led to more than 13,000 new applications for access to the program, according to a report from three German health insurance companies. However, a survey by research institute Forsa found that just 34 percent of Germans believed cannabis should be legal for adult use, compared to 63 percent opposed.