Germany firmly rejects recreational marijuana legalization bill as hope fades for reform
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right, Christian-democratic political alliance – the Union – opposes any liberalization
Friday, October 30, 2020
The German federal parliament rejected a bill to legalize a “strictly controlled” adult-use cannabis market, dealing a major setback to recreational marijuana reform efforts. The bill was tabled by the Green Party. The rejection came despite the fact that a majority of the members of the Bundestag belong to a political party that favors some type of reform. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is in favor of some reform – at least allowing experimental pilot programs – but cannabis reform has taken a back seat among Social Democrats who prefer to vote in tandem with their government coalition partner, the Union. Without favorable votes from at least some members of the government coalition parties – which have a majority in parliament – no legalization scenario is possible.
