Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1433519
8 ANALYSIS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2021 JAMES DEBONO THE European Union is cur- rently a hotchpotch of differ- ent approaches to cannabis use, ranging from complete prohi- bition to different levels of de- criminalisation and tolerance. Even in liberal enclaves like Barcelona and Amsterdam, the sale of cannabis from licensed clubs or outlets, is only allowed on murky legal grounds. But legalisation remains a rarity, with only Luxembourg preceding Malta in plans to le- galise home-growing of a limit- ed number of plants. Indeed, one of the risks of legalising cannabis in a small jurisdiction like Malta is that surplus production could spill over in to the illegal markets of countries where the product remains illegal, thus creating alarm among law enforcement agencies and concerns about possible mafia infiltration. But that is about to change as Germany, the EU's economic powerhouse and most popu- lous and influential country, is set to embark on legalisation, which could well have an im- pact across the continent. This is because along with cli- mate measures, digitalisation and a higher minimum wage, the coalition of the centre-left Social Democrats, Greens and the liberal Free Democrats have agreed on a plan to legalise can- nabis. Presently in Germany it's not illegal to consume cannabis but it remains illegal to buy and sell it. But in their coalition agree- ment, the three parties have agreed to legalise the sale of cannabis – as long as it is sold to adults in licensed establish- ments where it can be taxed and where quality control is en- sured. After four years, the par- ties vow to re-evaluate the law and its effect on society. If Germany does legalise rec- reational cannabis, it will be- come the first major European country to do so, after Canada and certain U.S. states, opening a significant market for legal cannabis growers. Such a deci- sion is bound to have a domino effect in the rest of European Union, which is itself based on free movement of goods and people. The minnows take the lead Malta, along with Luxem- bourg, is emerging as a trail- blazer on cannabis reform in a continent which for the past decades has grown more toler- ant of cannabis users who still resort to the black market to stock up. Other European countries like the Netherlands have long de- criminalised the drug, but pro- ducing, buying and selling re- mains illegal and only permitted in licensed coffee shops. Portu- gal and Spain have also opted for decriminalisation. Luxembourg was the first EU country to embark on the path towards legalisation. In October, the ruling coa- lition also composed of social democrats, greens and liberals, announced a new law which would allow adults to grow up After Malta, Germany set to make pot mainstream Malta risked isolation in Europe by 'legalising' home growing and the sale of cannabis from no-profit clubs but with Germany set to embark on a similar path, the wave could become unstoppable