The Senate publishes a report on the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis

Every 10 years since 2002, the Senate has updated its comparative legislation study on the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis. The third edition has just been updated and published on the Senate website.

L’updated study presents the evolution of the legal framework for the consumption, possession, sale and cultivation of cannabis in the 8 countries included in the initial study (Germany, Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom - England - and Switzerland), and extends its scope to include countries that have legalized cannabis in all or part of their territory: France, Germany, Italy, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Canada, the United States with the California, Uruguay and Malta.

As in the 2013 study, the specific regimes for the consumption and sale of cannabis for therapeutic purposes are not examined.

What does this note tell us?

Regular Newsweed readers won't learn much, especially if they've read the latest Augur report on cannabis legalization in Europe. The note nevertheless points out that all the countries bordering France have decriminalized cannabis, and that most have begun to consider some form of legalization.

The Netherlands, after decades of imposed cannabic tolerance, will be conducting a production trial to supply coffeeshops in a dozen cities. 10 production licenses are in the process of being awarded to secure the supply chain.

Switzerland has launched pilot projects for the controlled distribution of cannabis. Each project can accommodate 5000 participants who will be limited to 10g THC per month, or 50 grams of cannabis with 20% THC. Pilot projects will be monitored by universities to measure the impact of legal cannabis on participants and on the surrounding distribution areas. They may last up to 7 years. At the same time, what the Senate report doesn't say, the slow-moving parliamentary work towards legalization has begun with several parliamentary committees endorsing the need to control the «cannabis market to better protect young people and consumers».

Malta has become the first European country to end cannabis prohibition. Consumption, possession and cultivation for personal use are authorized within certain limits. Distribution will be assured a priori by the end of the year by Cannabis Social Clubs limited in number of members, who will be able to cultivate for them.

Spain has decriminalized the use and possession of cannabis in private places. Public possession is still prohibited. Distribution is provided by Cannabis Social Clubs which, if authorized under the exemption from penalization in private places, struggle to find a legal framework at federal level.

Portugal has decriminalized all drugs over 20 years ago. The note reports that consumption of all substances is lower than in the average European country, although cannabis use has risen steadily across all age groups.

The United Kingdom decriminalized by law enforcement agencies and some counties now regard penalizing simple use as the lowest priority. Some Cannabis Clubs are supported by the police. A has been launched by the Mayor of London to examine the legality of cannabis.

Germany today considered to have the most complex legalization project, has decided to legalize cannabis. Expert hearings are currently underway on a variety of subjects, and the bill is due to be presented to the House of Representatives. in the second half of 2022. Few details are yet known, but discussions seem to be moving towards a Canadian-style model.

We would add to the Senate's note that the Luxembourg to legalize cannabis self-cultivation, with no commercial model other than seeds, and that the Denmark has begun thinking about an experiment in legalization. of five years, like the one it is conducting on medical cannabis.