Berlin Considers Opening Pot Shops

[Skunkxxx]

The new mayor of Berlin’s trendy Kreuzberg district has her eye on legalizing cannabis. The pot topic is causing a buzz in Germany, especially since German federal elections take place on September 22.

Mayor Monika Herrmann, who is, appropriately, a Green Party politico, wants to eradicate illegal drug dealing in her district by opening city-run pot stores for cannabis consumers. Under current German law, buying and selling marijuana is illegal, but consumption is more of a grey area; each state sets its own amount of pot a person can possess without fear of arrest. In Berlin, police tolerate possession of up to 15 grams of pot for personal use.

Herrmann’s push for legal pot has yet to gain strong political support. Conservatives want to maintain the status quo, and keep marijuana illegal. However, residents of Berlin Kreuzberg say they would welcome coffeeshops or cannabis clubs in their district as a healthy alternative to the current illegal drug trade in Görlitzer Park, the go-to spot to purchase weed.

The legalization initiative is currently being debated in the regional parliament of Berlin, and will ultimately be ruled on by Germany’s answer to the FDA, the Federal Institute for Drugs in Bonn. Hopeful Berliners believe that reason will prevail, and that cannabis will soon be coming to a storefront near them.

 

[Allotropy]

 

The new mayor of Berlin’s trendy Kreuzberg district has her eye on legalizing cannabis. The pot topic is causing a buzz in Germany, especially since German federal elections take place on September 22.

Mayor Monika Herrmann, who is, appropriately, a Green Party politico, wants to eradicate illegal drug dealing in her district by opening city-run pot stores for cannabis consumers. Under current German law, buying and selling marijuana is illegal, but consumption is more of a grey area; each state sets its own amount of pot a person can possess without fear of arrest. In Berlin, police tolerate possession of up to 15 grams of pot for personal use.

Herrmann’s push for legal pot has yet to gain strong political support. Conservatives want to maintain the status quo, and keep marijuana illegal. However, residents of Berlin Kreuzberg say they would welcome coffeeshops or cannabis clubs in their district as a healthy alternative to the current illegal drug trade in Görlitzer Park, the go-to spot to purchase weed.

The legalization initiative is currently being debated in the regional parliament of Berlin, and will ultimately be ruled on by Germany’s answer to the FDA, the Federal Institute for Drugs in Bonn. Hopeful Berliners believe that reason will prevail, and that cannabis will soon be coming to a storefront near them.

 

 

 

 A large proportion of Germans just jump the border into the Netherlands to purchase their cannabis.

[DoctorWho]

 A large proportion of Germans just jump the border into the Netherlands to purchase their cannabis.

They don't care about the legality of cannabis.  They know its everywhere, cheap and high quality.  They just want the money to stay on their side of the border and you can tell that because they even tell you where to score locally before any shops can be opened

[Allotropy]

They don't care about the legality of cannabis.  They know its everywhere, cheap and high quality.  They just want the money to stay on their side of the border and you can tell that because they even tell you where to score locally before any shops can be opened

 

Sounds like Nimbin Australia

 

Agree mostly with what you say.

 

Typical political situation. Pro cannabis and Anti cannabis persuasions to consider. Revenue vs Medical Implictions etc.

 

I'm sure progressively with time cannabis laws will become more relaxed.

Edited September 23, 2013 by Allotropy

[The Hash Nibbler]

Well if ya saw how much bullshit goes on in Holland from all the people crossing the border just for weit, you'd thing it was a good idea. No-one likes having their town treated like shit. Whole parks in Tiel, Masstricht and other towns littered in baggies.... and i mean, you can hardly see the ground.

 

Be a good thing for Germany as well. The more countries in Europe do this the better it will be. I am a firm believer in the dutch coffee shop model..... as flawed as it may be.

Keep the soft drugs seperate from the hard drugs most dealers have also, and provide people a place to purchase and socialise with other cannabis users.

Just have to figure out the supply side, which i don't think anyone should have a monopoly on and it must be legal.

 

Germany has a medical cannabis set up, started last year. This is just for the recreational users. Good luck to em......

 

Peace. Nibbler.

[ethnoman]

Someone has to take over from the Dutch now, right? Germany knows how to hold onto power and money. It's good to see that views are softening on cannabis worldwide. Slowly, but surely, the walls are being eroded. If only Australia would see a little sense now...

[Skunkxxx]

I tell you things have changed so much so fast.

 

All the US had to do is say they are ezing up and the whole world is ready.

 

OZ will follow just as soon as the US makes it legal across the board.

That being all states of the united States Of America.

 

If our dumb asses would have not let it ever happen would have been better,but its just like alcohol.

 

We made it illegal for so many yrs just long enough for some to make all the money, then the law changed again.

 

Its a game for people with power and money,but even that can come to an end!

[ethnoman]

Not surprising, as that's where the entire idea of illegalisation started - in the US.

 

Wish I was as optimistic as you about Australia following, but I just don't see that happening.

[Skunkxxx]

Time will tell I guess…

[DoctorWho]

The usa can't legalise on the federal level without tons of international issues as it would mean removing them from the un's convention on narcotics.  If they do that the world will follow suit and there goes the war on drugs.  They'll let all the states do what they want as long as it doesn't cause federal issues but I dont see them doing anything other than possibly rescheduling cannabis to make it a lower priority for federal enforcement.   Doing that would effectively end the war on cannabis in the usa while letting them still claim that it is illegal to all the other nations.