BERLIN: The German Health Ministry expects the planned legalisation of cannabis to save the country’s law enforcement agencies, courts and prisons more than €1 billion (US$1.08 billion) in costs per year.
This emerged from a revised draft law that the ministry sent round on Thursday to professional associations that deal with the issue, a ministry spokesman said.
According to the draft legislation, first reported by the Funke media group, the ministry expects annual savings of €800 million for law enforcement agencies, €220 million for courts and €35 million euros for correctional facilities.
The cornerstones of the cannabis legalisation project were presented by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in April.
Among the key points known so far, people aged 18 years and up will be allowed to possess up to 25 grammes of the drug. The cultivation of a maximum of three plants for personal use will also be allowed.
Cannabis will not be sold in specialised shops as was once suggested. Instead cannabis is to be grown and sold collectively in cannabis clubs.
The clubs and club members will have to stick to strict rules.
Cannabis is only to be distributed to members, at a maximum of 50 grammes per month and only in “neutral packaging”.
German news agency (dpa) has learned that the draft legislation could be approved by the cabinet in mid-August. It will need approval by the Bundestag, the lower chamber of parliament, but not by the Bundesrat, the upper chamber.
Pro-cannabis advocates in Germany’s coalition government are aiming to legalise the drug this year. – BERNAMA-dpa
