Luxembourg details its proposals for the legalization of cannabis

A working group appointed by the Luxembourg government has published its proposals for Luxembourg's cannabis legalization pilot project. The document, entitled Dispositif expérimental d'accès légal au cannabis à des fins non-médicales, presents projections for a fully legal adult-use cannabis market in the country, which will limit access to residents over the age of 18.

The recommendations authorize the possession of a maximum of 3 grams of cannabis, the cultivation of a maximum of 4 plants at home and a retail market where residents would be allowed to purchase a maximum of 5 grams per day, up to 30 grams per month.

One of the plan's key recommendations is «that access to cannabis for non-medical purposes be regulated by a rigorous and robust pilot project, tailored to Luxembourg's specific needs».

The framework was drafted after consultation with an interdepartmental working group. The final document was then submitted for review to four international experts: Henri Bergeron, Director of Research at the CNRS, Rebecca Jesseman, Director of Policy at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Tomas Zabransky, a Czech epidemiologist, and Steve Rolles, a policy analyst at the French National Anti-Drug Agency. Transform Drug Policy Foundation.

Pre-legalization in 2 phases

The first stage of the pilot project would involve amending current legislation, the law of February 19, 1973, on the sale of medicinal substances.

Once the bill is passed, a maximum of 4 cannabis plants per household will be authorized for personal use. Consumption of cannabis in public places will remain prohibited, and strict rules will apply to distribution and sales.

The next phase will be devoted to developing a state-controlled cannabis production and sales chain. To this end, a pilot project will be set up to explore ways of improving the situation in the country. The experiment aims to determine how the sale of cannabis can be regulated, ensuring that access is only granted to those meeting criteria such as being resident in Luxembourg and over 18 years of age.

It is planned to grant 2 production licenses and create 14 sales outlets in Luxembourg. The sale of cannabis in public places will remain prohibited, and consumption sites will not be authorized. To launch the project, a study is being carried out by the Institut luxembourgeois de recherches sociales et d'études de marchés (Ilres) to analyze current consumption patterns in the country. A survey of 3,000 people will be carried out. The results will be available by the end of the year.

The Luxembourg government's objectives combine public health and safety. In terms of prevention, the main objectives are to reduce high-risk cannabis consumption by ensuring a quality product. On the security front, Luxembourg aims to gradually eliminate the illicit cannabis market by reducing drug-related organized crime and keeping consumers out of the criminal underworld.

The Europe of legalization

Luxembourg is the first country in Europe to announce its intention to authorize an adult-use cannabis market as part of its government policy. The agreement finalizing the formation of the new coalition government in 2018 contained a provision for the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis.

The agreement stipulated: «Legislation on the recreational use of cannabis will be drawn up. Its main objectives will be to decriminalize, or even legalize, under conditions yet to be determined, the production on Luxembourg territory, as well as the purchase, possession and recreational use of cannabis for the personal needs of residents of legal age; to get consumers off the black market; to resolutely reduce the mental and physical dangers associated with it; and to fight crime on the supply side.»

Since Luxembourg's historic announcement in 2018, many other European countries have made changes to their cannabis policies, such as Malta, which has become Europe's leading to allow access to recreational cannabis.

Other countries changing their position on cannabis for adult use include Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, The Netherlands or Portugal.