German Lawmakers Move Closer to Legalizing Marijuana
New York TimesFeb 23
Germany Legalizes Recreational Cannabis
The Facts
The German parliament on Friday voted to legalize cannabis, allowing adults over 18 to keep small amounts of the drug for limited recreational consumption.
Under the legislation, adults are allowed to cultivate up to three plants for personal use and possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public and 50 grams at home.
The Spin
Narrative A
Germany has taken cannabis out of the taboo zone and ended the era of dysfunctional and unjust prohibition. The legislation won't just crack down on the black market and drug-related crime; it will better protect young adults, cut the number of cannabis users, and simplify operations for both medical cannabis companies and patients.
Narrative B
This legislation will neither combat organized crime nor control the distribution of cannabis in licensed stores, but it will undoubtedly lead to more consumption and trivialization of the associated risks. It will normalize an addictive drug, make it easier for minors to obtain it, and drive more Germans into addiction and increase the work of law enforcement.
Nerd narrative
There's a 40% chance that cannabis will be removed from Schedule I of the US Controlled Substance Act before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.