Luxembourg: details of plans to legalize cannabis

From the announcement of the legalization of cannabis in Luxembourg At the end of 2018, the Grand Duchy is working on its copy to define the future rules of a legal market.

If a few details had already leaked out last year, notably on the legal age and possession limit, the Luxembourg government had admitted that it was behind schedule at the end of 2019 to at least present an interim document and set a working timetable.

According to public radio Radio 100.7, A provisional concept for legalization has reportedly been approved by the Ministries of Health and Justice. The text still needs to be amended, but will serve as the basis for the creation of the future legal framework. The text provides for :

• a purchase limit of 30 grams of cannabis per month
• a minimum age of 18, for residents of Luxembourg for at least 6 months
• a ban on consumption in public places and places where smoking is prohibited
• national production
• a ban on self-cultivation
• 14 points of sale across the country to start with
• a portion of annual sales will be paid back to the State

To date, the text has proved particularly strict, with a low monthly purchase limit, and no details on concentrates or edibles, and prohibiting self-cultivation. As in Canada, regulation of the cannabis market will separate legal cannabis, sold in stores, from illegal cannabis, which may be grown at home.

Two national production licenses are planned, for indoor cultivation under secure conditions, which must be eligible for export of EU-GMP cannabis for medical use.

Outlets will have to be located away from schools, open from noon to 8pm, and will not be allowed to sell alcohol or tobacco. The project does not include Internet sales or home delivery. The outlets will not be able to accommodate customer consumption.

Flowers will be sold in packs of 3, 5 or 10g, with THC and CBD content indicated, and a QR code added for traceability information on the life of the product.

Sales prices will be set by the government, at a level that is «neither too expensive nor too cheap», according to the document. Taxation will be progressive, starting out low and gradually rising.