Germany to legalize Marihuana on 01. April – How legalization changed Canada

February 25, 2024February 25, 2024canada, Cannabis, Drug usage, Drugs, drugs usage in canada, Germany, Germany legalizing marihuana, Germany to legalize cannabis, Legalizing Cannabis, Marihuana

A new law allowing the recreational use of cannabis has received support from the German parliament.
The law will enable German adults over the age of eighteen to possess large amounts of cannabis, but tight regulations will make it tough to get the substance.
Starting on April 1st, it will be legal to smoke cannabis in many public areas. In public areas, one is permitted to possess up to 25g, or dozens of powerful joints. The permissible limit in private residences will be 50g. Now that more countries follow Netherland and Canadas foot steps, how did the legalization effect the population?

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is driving the changes, claims that despite the legislation, youth drug use has been skyrocketing for years. He seeks to destroy the underground market, shield cannabis users from tainted product, and eliminate sources of income for groups involved in organized crime. In other words the country could profit from legal ways of selling recreational drugs. Instead of raising taxes, countries like Germany could fill their accounts with fresh stockpile of revenue.

But is legalizing marihuana a good choice for the society as whole? How did marihuana legalization change Canada and Canadian society? The opinions are mixed.

Are there any benefits from legalizing Marihuana?

In recent years, the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana has gained significant traction globally. With shifting cultural attitudes and evolving legislative landscapes, the question of whether legalizing marijuana is a positive step forward continues to spark heated discussions. Advocates emphasize its potential benefits, while opponents raise concerns about potential societal drawbacks. While you may lean toward one or the other side of the debate, lets see the advantages and disadvantages of marijuana legalization, using Canada’s experience as a case study to examine the societal impacts.

The Benefits of Marihuana Legalization

Regulation and Safety: One of the primary arguments in favour of legalization is the ability to regulate the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana. By bringing the industry into the legal framework, governments can implement quality control measures to ensure product safety and potency. This helps mitigate the risks associated with consuming unregulated and potentially harmful substances.

Revenue Generation: Legalizing marijuana creates a new source of tax revenue for governments. In jurisdictions where it’s legal, cannabis sales contribute significantly to state coffers through taxes and licensing fees. These funds can be allocated towards essential public services, education, healthcare, and drug abuse prevention and treatment programs. According to published Statistics Canada statistics, cannabis earnings and tax income brought in over 1.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.12 billion) to various levels of the Canadian government in fiscal 2021–2022. According to Statistics Canada’s most recent figures, 2023 August sales of recreational cannabis in Canada reached 464.2 million Canadian dollars ($339 million), up 4% from July. The sector has been growing steadily each month since.

Economic Growth: The legal cannabis industry stimulates economic growth by creating jobs and business opportunities. From cultivation and processing to retail and ancillary services, legalization has spawned a thriving industry that generates employment and drives economic development. Back in days, corner stores used to be filling plazas and neighbourhood buildings, those days are long gone, cannabis stores have changed the whole retail demographics. Cannabis stores are everywhere, from small plazas, private buildings to major malls.

Reduced Crime and Law Enforcement Costs: Legalization removes the black market incentive for illicit drug trafficking and reduces the burden on law enforcement resources. By redirecting resources away from enforcing marijuana prohibition, authorities can focus on tackling more serious crimes and public safety issues. Legalization was linked to a significant drop in cannabis-related offences reported to the police, both by men and women: men reported 12.42 daily offences (95% CI, 8.99; 15.86), a reduction of 53.0% (se, 22.7%); females reported 4.04 daily incidents [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.08; 5.01], a decrease of 62.1% [standard error (se), 34.3%]. This is obvious reaction, you legalize something and there is no crime in doing drugs, but how about entire crime related or not related to cannabis legalization?

The Crime Severity Index (CSI), which gauges police-reported crime in Canada, rose 4% in 2022—the second year in a row. In 2022, the Violent CSI increased and to its highest level since 2007. So did crime rate go down because of cannabis legalization? No! In contrary, the crime rate rose. Rising crime rate in Canada can not be linked to cannabis legalization, further studies are needed to determine all facts.

The Drawbacks of Cannabis Legalization

Public Health Concerns: Critics argue that legalizing marijuana may lead to increased substance abuse and addiction rates, particularly among vulnerable populations such as adolescents. There are concerns about the long-term health effects of regular cannabis use, including cognitive impairment, respiratory issues, and mental health disorders. Your health may be negatively impacted for a long time if you use cannabis often. Beginning while you’re younger can be more harmful, and stopping later might not have the desired impact. Continuous cannabis usage can: raise the possibility of addiction and mental health issues,
damage your IQ, memory, focus, and capacity for thought and decision-making. When you smoke, your lungs’ health is compromised, increasing the risk of bronchitis, lung infections, persistent coughing, and increased mucus buildup in the throat. Cannabis usage that is heavy and frequent might cause physical dependence. The brain molecule responsible for pleasure, dopamine, is elevated in response to THC. This encourages users to continue using it. Dependency may strike at any age. Because of the ongoing development of their brains, youth are particularly vulnerable. When young people start using cannabis often, the risk of developing a dependent increases.

Traffic Safety: Another area of concern is the potential impact of marijuana legalization on road safety. Studies have shown that cannabis impairs cognitive function and motor skills, which can increase the risk of accidents and fatalities on the road. Implementing effective measures to address impaired driving is crucial in mitigating this risk. There was a rise in the number of fatalities, serious injuries, and overall injuries in 2021 even though fatalities in Canada have been on the decline since 2002

There were 1,768 motor vehicle fatalities in 2021, an increase of 1.3% from 1,746 in 2020.
In 2021, there were 8,185 serious injuries, a 4% rise from 7,868 in 2020.
The number of total injuries increased to 108,018 in 2021; up 3.6% from 2020 (104,286).
In 2021, there were 4.8 deaths per billion vehicle miles driven, up from 4.7 in 2020.

Rise in overall accidents, fatalities and serious injuries cannot be linked to use of cannabis. Further studies need to be performed in order to determine if cannabis usage was contributing factor.

Gateway Drug Theory: Some opponents of legalization contend that marijuana serves as a gateway drug, potentially leading users to experiment with harder substances. While research on this topic is inconclusive, it remains a point of contention in the debate over drug policy. Cocaine levels increased from January to May 2022 in the majority of the towns analyzed as compared to the same time in 2020, and preliminary data for 2023 indicates that the general increase is still occurring. Furthermore, according to Statistics Canada, which cited a different Public Health Agency of Canada data, almost half of the apparent accidental opioid fatalities “also involved a stimulant,” despite the fact that drug overdoses climbed by more than 30% overall between 2020 and 2021.

The Canadian Wastewater Survey, which has been routinely gathering wastewater samples from many communities throughout the nation since 2019 to screen for various forms of drugs, provided the data in which it shows increase in usage of illegal drugs in Canada.

The Canadian Experience

Canada made history in 2018 by becoming the first G7 nation to legalize recreational marijuana nationwide. Since then, the country has witnessed several notable changes in its societal landscape:

Cultural Shift: Legalization has sparked a cultural shift in Canada, normalizing the use of marijuana and challenging longstanding stigmas associated with cannabis consumption. Public attitudes towards marijuana have become more accepting, with an increasing number of Canadians viewing it as a legitimate form of recreation and medicine.

Economic Boom: The legal cannabis industry in Canada has experienced exponential growth since legalization. The country’s marijuana market has attracted investments from both domestic and international players, creating jobs and stimulating economic activity across various sectors.

Regulatory Challenges: Despite the benefits, Canada’s legalization journey has not been without challenges. Regulatory issues, supply chain disruptions, and struggles with illicit market competition have posed obstacles to the industry’s growth and stability. However, ongoing efforts to streamline regulations and address these challenges are underway.

Public Health Considerations: With legalization, Canada has also focused on implementing public health measures to mitigate potential harms associated with cannabis use. Initiatives such as public education campaigns, product labeling requirements, and impaired driving laws aim to promote responsible consumption and minimize adverse health outcomes.

In conclusion, the debate over the legalization of marijuana is multifaceted, with proponents and opponents presenting valid arguments on both sides of the issue. While legalization offers potential benefits such as regulation, revenue generation, and economic growth, it also raises concerns regarding public health, safety, and societal implications. Examining the Canadian experience provides valuable insights into the complexities and nuances of marijuana legalization, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the associated benefits and drawbacks in shaping effective drug policy frameworks.

Seeing Canadian experience one cannot but to think that Germany is after the extra revenue alone, ignoring the negative aspects for entire society.