• Ban, ignore or regulate? Kratom and the Whac-A-Mole world of soft drugs

    The Czech Republic is testing a new approach to controlling psychoactive substances
    Politico (US)
    Wednesday, April 19, 2023

    kratom2It’s a leaf, it’s sold as a dye, and it’s used as a drug: It’s kratom, and it’s all the rage in the Czech Republic. Kratom is among the dozens of psychoactive substances emerging on Europe's recreational drugs scene every year. Some, like kratom, are fairly new to Europe but have been used in other parts of the world for hundreds of years. Others, so-called designer drugs, are concocted by recreational drugmakers to circumvent drug laws — hence their moniker, “legal highs.” They're drugs that fly under the radar, open to abuse but which don't (yet) fall under the purview of international drugs laws. And they create a cat-and-mouse game between policymakers and drug designers.

  • Czechs go to pot

    Czechia is preparing to introduce a fully legal and regulated cannabis market, with details expected by the end of June, but it’s still not a done deal
    Balkan Insight
    Monday, April 17, 2023

    czech cannabis flag2On April 5, the government approved the 2023-2025 Addiction Policy Action Plan, a wide-ranging policy reform package, including the liberalisation and possible legalisation of recreational cannabis use, sale and production in the Czech Republic. With government parties enjoying a majority in both chambers of parliament, a newly elected pro-legalisation president and widespread public support to ease the rules, the declared goal of legalisation coming into force in 2024 doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Seeing it as a homerun, however, would be a mistake, according to Lukas Hurt, a long-time pro-legalisation activist and editor-in-chief of Magazin Konopi, an online and print publication he co-founded in 2018 that specialises in covering the medical uses of cannabis.

  • Dutch cannabis policy example of ‘how not to do it’, says German minister

    The Netherlands is currently investigating ways of removing the grey area between licenced cannabis cafes or coffee shops and illegal growing
    Dutch News (Netherlands)
    Thursday, April 13, 2023

    coffeeshop3Germany is legalising cannabis use, with the Dutch policy as an example ‘of how not to do it’, German health minister Karl Lauterbach has told broadcaster NOS. Coffee shops, where the Dutch can buy cannabis in limited quantities for private use, are not part of the German plans which include allowing people to grow their own small amount of cannabis at home, or obtain it via non-commercial associations. Germany is also looking at the possibility of commercial cannabis plantations. The Dutch combination of legal sale and consumption and black market production ‘is a sum of disadvantages’, he said.

  • Government to deliver pilot project "in due course"

    The Minister of Health is optimistic that at least one concept on the legalisation of cannabis may soon be presented to the government council
    RTL Today (Luxembourg)
    Thursday, April 13, 2023

    luxembourg cannabisThe pilot project on the legalisation of cannabis in Luxembourg is expected to arrive at the government council "in due course," according to Paulette Lenert. In an interview with RTL, the Minister of Health said the controlled public sale of cannabis is likely to follow Germany's example in being authorised within the framework of an experiment, so as not to violate international rules. Lenert is optimistic that the government will soon be able to present updates on the concept to the government council. Lenert declined to confirm whether a bill on cannabis legalisation is likely to be tabled before the parliamentary elections.

  • Czechia's plans to legalize cannabis: Buy up to 5 grams per day, but register in a database first

    The draft new proposal, which the government will debate this month, will also make it legal for firms to grow and sell the drug for recreational purposes
    Expats (Czech Republic)
    Thursday, April 13, 2023

    czech pirates regulationCzechia plans to introduce a new, regulated cannabis market allowing people to consume up to 5 grams of cannabis recreationally per day, and legalize the growth and distribution of the drug. Seznam Zprávy reports that under the government’s new plans, consumers would need to register in a database, and growers and sellers would need to pay annual fees. According to the state’s anti-drug policy coordinator Jindřich Vobořil and the Pirate Party, which is part of the current coalition, the proposal could earn the government around CZK 2 billion per year. The regulation is still in its draft form and will be debated in parliament this month. If approved, it could be implemented as early as next year.

  • German officials unveil revised plan to legalize marijuana

    The government said that it will promote its approaches to its European partners” and is also examining how EU member states can press to make relevant international laws “more flexible and developed”
    Marijuana Moment (US)
    Wednesday, April 12, 2023

    germany cannabis flagHealth Minister Karl Lauterbach and Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir released the updated legalization plans, scaling back the framework announced last year. There will not be a country-wide commercial cannabis market as originally envisioned. Instead, adults wiil be allowed to possess up to 25 grams and grow up to three plants for personal use, while permitting nonprofit cannabis “clubs” with a maximum of 500 members. The plan would involve authorizing dispensaries in “certain districts/cities in several federal states” throughout Germany that would be licensed for five years, to study the impact of the shops on consumption trends and the illicit market. (See also: Germany waters down plan to legalize cannabis after EU talks | Germany's two-step plan to legalize cannabis)

  • Legalising cannabis in Australia: how would it work and is there a catch?

    The Greens say legalising cannabis could net the government $28bn tax revenue in nine years, but there are a few hurdles
    The Guardian (UK)
    Monday, April 10, 2023

    The Greens are about to introduce legislationaustralia cannabis map2 into the parliament to legalise cannabis across Australia. Currently out for public consultation, the legislation, if passed, would allow for the regulation and sale of approved cannabis strains for recreational consumption in Australia, joining the handful of countries (and US states) that have already moved to legalise it. Greens senator David Shoebridge plans to introduce the bill to the Senate once the party has taken on board the results of that consultation. To get anywhere, the bill would need government support and Labor hasn’t yet given any indication it would throw its weight behind the legislation. So what does and doesn’t the legalise cannabis bill allow?

  • Cannabis greenhouses and ‘chain-store’ clubs permitted under new rules

    Malta's new cannabis rules allow larger growers to have greenhouses where to cultivate volumes that will serve up to 500 members with ‘chain store’ dispensaries
    Malta Today (Malta)
    Sunday, April 9, 2023

    malta cannabis flagMalta’s laws for the sale of recreational cannabis could likely make room for large players seeking to corner the market, with the prospect of cannabis retailer ‘chains’. Malta’s not-for-profit model in the sale of cannabis has been a founding principle for the fledgling regulator, the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC). But under the laws and directives issued by the authority, large associations will be able to have multiple distribution sites, as well as grow cannabis in greenhouses in rural settings usually outside the development zones. The largest association possible to grow cannabis being allowing a maximum of 500 members, such a cannabis club will also be able to split the volumes of cannabis it grows across multiple distribution sites. (Clarification: Multiple distribution points for cannabis associations)

  • Thailand's promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame

    The legal framework has never been clearly set out and long-promised legislation failed in February to get through parliament, leaving the country without an umbrella law to regulate its use
    The Star / Reuters (Malaysia)
    Thursday, April 6, 2023

    thailand cannabis costumeThailand's decriminalisation of cannabis has delighted its fans, alarmed some health experts and has increasingly disappointed farmers who have been undercut by illegal imports, sending a promise of a new bonanza crop up in smoke. Marijuana has also become an election football with the opposition criticising the ruling pro-military coalition in the run-up to May 14 polls for rushing through decriminalisation last year to what they say is the detriment of society, youngsters in particular. Thousands of cannabis shops and businesses have sprung up, especially in Bangkok and tourist spots, since Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalise the drug.

  • Czech government approves plan for regulated cannabis market

    Details of the revised plan have not been released yet, but the introduction of the market would also include steps to fight drug and gambling addiction
    ČTK (Czechia)
    Thursday, April 6, 2023

    czech cannabis flag2The Czech cabinet approved a plan for fighting addictions until 2025. It includes the introduction of a strictly regulated cannabis market based on rules drafted by an expert group. The plan still has to pass through both houses of the Czech parliament and be signed by the president before it becomes law. National anti-drug policy coordinator Jindřich Vobořil previously said that the plan would have five priorities. One of them will be a controlled cannabis market. Another one is the tax policy, which could bring Czechia up to CZK 15 billion a year. The remaining three priorities are prevention and treatment, promoting the relevant steps in the EU, and preparing for possible impacts.

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