Politicians who continue to welcome contracts with US companies without considering the risks and consequences of total dependency in the years to come are undermining the raison d’etre of the NHS, argues Dr JOHN PUNTIS
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European cannabis reform: still lost between the black market and the free market
Germany has scaled back its recreational cannabis plans to avoid falling foul of EU laws. That means full marketisation is on hold for now — but that is not a bad thing, argues ISAAC KNEEBONE-HOPKINS
A worker prepares medical marijuana in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
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ON April 12 2023 German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced the proposed plan for Germany’s cannabis legalisation. A two-stage process was laid out with immediate plans for the decriminalisation of cannabis for recreational use and the rollout of state-regulated not-for-profit cannabis social clubs where members will be able to buy cannabis for personal use. The law is currently still in its draft form and may be altered before it is voted through.
Germany’s club system would be like fellow EU member Malta, which passed legislation to decriminalise cannabis in 2021 and started accepting license applications for the clubs earlier this year.
The second stage of Germany’s plan is short on details but will involve a limited five-year pilot exploring the possibilities for a recreational consumer market in an EU country. However, at this time little information has been released to say how and where this will happen.
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