Luxembourg Legalizes Cannabis Cultivation for Adults

Luxembourg’s government has legalized cannabis cultivation for adults 18-and-older making it the first European nation to broadly legalize cannabis cultivation for its citizens, the Guardian reports. Under the law, adults can grow up to four plants in their homes or on other property they own. The trade of cannabis seeds is also allowed under the legislation.

Luxembourg leaders do intend to legalize commercial cannabis sales, but those reforms have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Cannabis consumption in public remains outlawed along with person-to-person sales along with transporting more than 3 grams, the report says.

The government said the law will allow citizens to use and grow cannabis “within one’s own four walls.”

With the reforms, Luxembourg joins Canada, Uruguay, and several U.S. states in flouting the United National convention on the control of narcotic drugs. In the Netherlands, cannabis remains technically illegal, but the nation has a “tolerance policy,” which has allowed recreational use within its borders.

Cannabis liberalization laws are also being considered in Germany following the electoral victories by the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats last month. The Free Democrats estimate that if cannabis was to be taxed similarly to cigarettes, Germany could raise up to €1 billion annually.

Luxembourg government sources told the Guardian that was cannabis legalized for commercials sales, the revenues would be used “primarily in prevention, education, and healthcare in the broad field of addiction.”

The general framework of Luxembourg’s law had been agreed to two years ago by the Liberals, Social Democrats, and Greens.