Luxembourg wants to allow the state-controlled cultivation and sale of cannabis in a pilot project. On Friday, the government presented a concept that could become a model for the restricted release of cannabis, which is also planned by the federal government. The starting point is similar.
Thomas Gutschker
Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries, based in Brussels.
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As a first step, both countries want to decriminalize the private cultivation of hemp plants and consumption of the drug. In the second step, they want to enable legal cultivation and sale on a trial basis. While the German government presented general key points at the beginning of the month, Luxembourg is already two steps ahead.
The left-liberal government coalition presented the first step in the summer of last year, but it has not yet come into force. According to this, a household is allowed to grow four hemp plants privately; Adults are allowed to consume the cannabis extracted from the flowers or resin of the plant in private rooms.
The federal government is planning a system with private clubs. In the second and more far-reaching step, 640 state outlets are to be set up in the Grand Duchy, which has 000,14 inhabitants, which will be allowed to sell cannabis products under strict conditions. Buyers must be over 18 years of age and resident in Luxembourg. The (illegal) resale to people from other countries is to be subject to heavy penalties.
Five grams of cannabis per day
According to the concept developed by a government commission, users are allowed to purchase a maximum of five grams of cannabis per day, and a maximum of 30 grams in a month. The quantity purchased in each case is to be registered in a central file through which points of sale must verify the age and identity of their buyers. The THC content that affects the intoxication experience is not intended to be regulated. However, outlets must warn of the psychological consequences of consumption; they are not allowed to advertise.
In addition, cannabis with lower intoxication effects is to be offered more cheaply. The price is set by the state and is initially based on the black market. There, a gram of cannabis currently costs an average of 9.50 euros. The pricing policy is intended to dry up the black market.
Cultivation and supply chain to be strictly monitored
However, the Commission itself points to the risk that in the future dealers will target young people who are not legally allowed to buy cannabis. The report reveals that 18% of fifteen- to eighteen-year-olds in the Grand Duchy already say they have used cannabis, and a third of them seem to do so regularly.
The Commission also admits that it is questionable to supply it to young adults for medical reasons, as cannabis use can impair brain development up to the age of 25. She justifies the age limit of 18 years by saying that it is the limit for full criminal responsibility, from which people would also have to answer for other wrong decisions.
The cultivation of cannabis is also to be controlled by the state. The aim is to fully meet domestic demand. Licences are to be granted for this purpose, although the Commission estimates that two production sites in Luxembourg will be sufficient. Here, the proposal is based on a similar model project in the Netherlands.
As there, a close-knit network is to be set up to monitor cultivation and the supply chain. The main goal of the reform, said Justice Minister Sam Tanson, is to displace the black market and "remove users from the criminal milieu." The previous attempt to use only repressive means did not lead to the desired results.