A consultation process consisting of five public hearings with health experts, economists and cannabis growers concluded this week, firing the starting gun for a race to clear legal and regulatory hurdles within one to two years. A draft bill is expected within the second half of 2022.
The country would also stand to reap significant economic benefits: with an estimated annual domestic demand of 400 tonnes of cannabis, Haucap’s institute predicts Germany stands to gain about €4.7bn a year through additional tax intakes as well as cost savings from no longer prosecuting those who enjoy a spliff or two.
In Uruguay, where recreational use of cannabis has been legal since 2013, only 25 pharmacies are licensed to sell the drug and 70% of consumers still buy off the black market. The hemp industry is lobbying the German government to tax cannabis products at no more than €10 a gramme of bud, with a lower rate for plants with lower tetrahydrocannabinol content. A higher rate of taxation would give an advantage to illicit dealers, they argue, as would a wholesale ban on advertising state-offered weed.
However, youth welfare and child protection groups are highly critical of selling cannabis via e-commerce channels. At Thursday’s hearing, they argued if the government wants to live up to its stated aim of protecting minors, it needs to ensure cannabis is only sold over the counter by trained and licensed staff.
. Addiction in general (alcohol, e-cigarettes, gambling, gaming, junk food, sugary drinks, medications, drugs) and gut microbiome imbalances associated with addiction and insufficient endocannabinoid production still need to be addressed. .
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