Germany to lead «a real paradigm shift on drugs».»

Having been in office for two weeks, the new German drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, cannot avoid the question of a date for the Future Legalization of Cannabis in Germany. The former member of the Bundestag had, in fact, been campaigning for this for a long time, but was keen to set a realistic timeline for the project.

In an interview with the German newspaper RND, Burkhard Blienert stated that the new «traffic-light» coalition will be at the forefront of a new global movement that will bring about a «true paradigm shift in drug and addiction policy.».

He said, «In my new role, my focus is on protecting and helping consumers, not punishing them. With the controlled and regulated sale of cannabis in Germany, we are about to make European history.»

Over the long term…

Developing a regulatory framework for cannabis always takes time. Canada, which already had a legal framework for the production and distribution of cannabis for medical use, launched its task force on recreational cannabis in 2016 for legalization in 2018. Burkhard Blienert confirms that drafting the new laws in Germany will not be an easy task, but that there is a model in the form of the Cannabis Control Act proposed by the German Greens in 2015.

In addition to protecting public health, by restricting cannabis use to adults and tackling the black market head-on, the drug commissioner knows he will have to address issues such as personal possession, advertising, taxation, home cultivation, and measures aimed at shifting policy regarding other illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

He thus hopes to expand this approach to all drugs: «We must not leave drug addicts alone with their problems. I would like us to focus not on enforcement but on protecting and helping drug users. Criminal law is neither a medicine nor a therapy. We must empower people and reduce the health risks associated with addiction.»

He believes that Germany will be at the forefront of a new movement that will shift international drug policy toward «health protection and regulation rather than repression.».

… but before the next election

As for the timeline, no specific date was given. He did, however, make a point of assuring that they will be in place within four years.

«Before the end of this legislative term, there should be a law that makes it legal for adults to purchase cannabis in Germany, in a controlled and safe manner. That is what the coalition agreement says, and we will stick to it,» he said.