Cannabis Legalization Plans Emerging in Luxembourg
Luxembourg will unveil the final legislation soon, but the details are now emerging
It has been in the works for the last four years ever since the new government promised that it would progress with cannabis legalization before 2023. Now the details are emerging – both through leaks and now from the government itself. The final draft bill will be made public sometime in June.
According to Minister of Justice Sam Tanson, the bill will allow Luxembourgian residents to grow four plants at home. Beyond this, possession of fewer than three grams of cannabis will be decriminalized.
Trade in cannabis seeds will be allowed, nationwide, because it will make no sense to criminalize seed sales when people are allowed to grow their own.
The announcement noted that it is now easier for Luxembourg to stake its position on this as Germany is also moving forward on adult-use reform. That said, there seems to be no formal cooperation or communication between the two governments on coordinating plans or even advising each other. Apparently, plans for commercial cultivation and sales were dropped in Luxembourg at least because of the prevailing international regulations about cannabis.
Expect, as a result of Germany’s forward movement, for the Luxembourgian government to also expand such rights domestically.
In the meantime, Luxembourg will (at least) match Malta in allowing home grow.
The Impact of German Legalization
As widely anticipated, other countries in Europe are watching – and waiting – for Germany’s stake in the ground on the legalization question.
That legislation is also expected to be drafted and made public sometime this summer – to allow the Bundestag to debate and then pass it by the end of the year. If the Health Minister fails in this task, he will lose his PR budget – so it is unlikely that there will be a significant delay on the German side of the border.
Because the German discussion is absolutely about the commercialization of the recreational side of the industry, which will undoubtedly grow on the basic infrastructure established by the medical cannabis cultivation bid, it is also likely that other countries, starting with Luxembourg and Malta, if not Portugal beyond this, will almost certainly issue similar kinds of regulations.
Given the fact that Covid is receding, governments are running out of time and excuses in tackling this discussion. How quickly such legislation will not only be passed but allow a fully functional market is another question.