A year of cannabis law: three clubs in MV fight for more areas!

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Ein Jahr nach dem Cannabisgesetz mit drei Anbauvereinigungen. Herausforderungen und Entwicklungen.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: A year after the cannabis law with three cultivation associations. Challenges and developments. (Symbolbild/NAG)

A year of cannabis law: three clubs in MV fight for more areas!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a new chapter has been opened in cannabis policy. After a year of implementation of the Cannabis Act, the Consumer Cannabis Act (Kcang) was introduced on April 1, 2024, followed by the regulation for cultivation associations that came into force on July 1, 2024. To date, three cultivation associations have been approved in the region. One of them is located in Rostock and two in Greifswald, such as n-tv

A total of 13 applications were made to the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety and Fishing (Lallf). Three of these were granted, one rejected and three others are currently being processed. A great advantage for the new cultivation associations is the legal clarity that the law offers, even if Marc Thalus, chairman of "Sochill Green", points out that the implementation was challenging, in particular because of unclearly formulated regulations.

positive record of "Sochill Green"

Fortunately,

"Sochill Green" has increased from 70 members to 242 today, and there are also 200 interested parties on the waiting list. The first harvest included 700 plants. Despite a lower yield than originally expected, Thalus sees the development positively. He is convinced that the need for cannabis growing associations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is greater than the current three clubs can cover this.

The distance regulation of 200 meters to schools and kindergartens presented the cultivation associations for challenges. "Sochill Green" had to shift its areas and ensures that new acreage is secured with surveillance cameras. Thalus also believes that the cannabis law will also exist with the new federal government.

The legal framework conditions

The Lallf is not only responsible for the approval of the cultivation associations, but also for their surveillance and the determination of the annual cultivation. The fees for an growing permit range between 500 and 3,500 euros, depending on the administrative effort. Government M-V informs that the costs for official surveillance also range from 100 to 1,100 euros.

With the Kcang, people aged 18 and over may have up to 50 grams of cannabis at home and have a maximum of 25 grams outside. In -house cultivation is allowed, whereby up to three plants can be pulled per household - however, these must be protected from theft and children. Consumption in public is permitted as long as it is not in schools, sports facilities, or in sight of children (100 meters around the entrance areas).

outlook for the future

The legalization of cannabis does not only have an impact on the cultivation associations. The regulatory authorities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are also preparing for the new Situation, while numerous existing procedures for cannabis delics have to be checked by the judiciary. Nordkurier emphasizes that strict rules apply to the cultivation associations, such as the prohibition of advertising and securing the attachment. In the event of violations, fines of up to 30,000 euros.

The first steps towards a new cannabis policy are taken, but it is unclear what the future brings. The discussion about the right handling of cannabis in Germany will continue and could help to get the topic in other federal states.

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OrtGreifswald, Deutschland
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