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Cannabis clubs in Saxony-Anhalt: A new path or a big risk?
Saxony-Anhalt is experiencing a change with new cannabis social clubs due to the 2024 law. An evaluation is urgently needed.
Cannabis clubs in Saxony-Anhalt: A new path or a big risk?
Cannabis legalization in Germany is taking concrete shape. In Saxony-Anhalt, several cannabis social clubs have been founded since the Cannabis Act came into force in April 2024. In the first few months after the legal reform, 16 applications for the communal cultivation and distribution of cannabis found a nice place at the State Office for Consumer Protection. By the end of 2024, half of these applications have already been approved, which shows that there is great interest among the population. This reports Time online.
But what exactly does it look like in Saxony-Anhalt? At the Cannabis Social Club Köthen-Gerlebock-Bernburg, which is housed in a former butcher's shop, the club's boss Christopher Reckrühm has a cultivation permit. Cannabis and hashish have been legal to sell there since November. The club is one of ten in Saxony-Anhalt and already has 60 members - most of them over 40 years old. Excitingly, the oldest consumer is 71 years old! However, around 15 percent of members are newbies and want to try cannabis for the first time, while the majority have already had experience before. This suggests that partial legalization encourages people to engage with the issue MDR.
Despite the measures, questions remain unanswered
However, there are also voices that point out the challenges of the new legal situation. The justice ministers from Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia have called for the law to be revised. Implementation represents a significant burden and could have long-term social consequences that are no longer acceptable if no evaluation takes place. There are already reports of an increase in consumption, as well as increased problems with crime and the trafficking of cannabis. The first alarm signals were reported, especially from facilities for children and young people Time online reported.
The question arises: How will the police deal with these new regulations in the future? Christopher Reckrühm from the Köthen-Gerlebock-Bernburg Club sees a certain uncertainty here, especially with regard to the permitted quantities and cuttings that can be legally sold. Although the new regulations have opened doors, implementation is often associated with hurdles. The entire process is exciting, but for many it is still a blank slate.
The discussion about cannabis in Germany is only at the beginning, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. The balance between legalization and dealing with the associated challenges will be crucial to achieving the desired goal.