Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy calls for cannabis legalization

Belgium finds itself at a crossroads in the ongoing debate over the legalization of cannabis, with Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne of the Socialist Party (PS) arguing for a new approach to the country's drug policy. In an interview with Belgian newspaper L'Avenir, Mr Dermagne said it was high time to end cannabis prohibition and move to a regulated market.

Mr. Dermagne argues that prosecuting, arresting and imprisoning people for cannabis-related offenses no longer makes sense, especially given the changing landscape in Belgium's neighboring countries. «Of Belgium's four neighboring countries, three have decriminalized or are going to legalize consumption and sales,» points out Mr. Dermagne.

The Deputy Prime Minister not only advocates decriminalization, but also full regulation and control of cannabis production and sales. He believes that this approach would have many benefits, including better supervision of consumers, protection against sales to minors, a reduction in criminal revenues (including the potential funding of terrorist activities) and the ability for law enforcement to focus on more pressing issues.

Mr Dermagne also points to the economic benefits it could bring. He estimates that Belgium could gain 660 million euros in revenue from excise duties. This assertion is backed up by a study in 2019 by the Groupe du Vendredi, which suggests potential gains of up to 144.6 million euros a year, depending on the decriminalization model chosen.

However, Mr Dermagne's proposal does not meet with unanimous approval. The majority partner, the French-speaking liberal party (MR), is firmly opposed to the idea of decriminalization at this stage. MR president Georges-Louis Bouchez expressed concern about the timing, citing the current problems of drug use, particularly hard drugs, in Belgian cities. The MR recognizes the need for debate, but stresses the harmful effects of cannabis on health, particularly among young consumers.

While the debate continues, Belgium is preparing to study the possibility of decriminalizing cannabis. The Senate plans to publish an information report in the coming months, based on contributions from experts. With the exception of MR, most French-speaking parties are expressing support for some form of cannabis reform.

These parties differ in their proposals, These range from the strict regulation and control advocated by the PS to the total decriminalization of possession and certain forms of production and distribution proposed by DéFI. Ecolo advocates comprehensive regulation of the entire cannabis chain, while Les Engagés advocates decriminalization of all drug use. The PTB insists on state regulation of production and sales.

In his assessment of international models, Mr. Dermagne favors the German approach, where consumers join Cannabis Clubs responsible for collective cultivation and distribution. He criticizes the Dutch model, which he describes as 'hypocritical» due to the gap between legal sales and illegal cultivation.

In northern Belgium, opinions on cannabis legalization are less favorable. The CD&V, N-VA and Vlaams Belang parties all oppose decriminalization, with the Open Vld expressing strong reservations. On the other hand, Vooruit and Groen are strongly in favor of reform.