Germany has been relaxing its drug policies, with the consumption and cultivation of cannabis becoming partially legal this year. Now Hanover and Frankfurt want to trial the sale of the drug at special dispensaries with the support of two German universities.
The pilot project in Hanover, Lower Saxony, will be accompanied by a scientific study carried out by the Hanover Medical School, with around 4,000 people expected to take part.
Up to three points of sale are planned, with the project set to run for five years. People over 18 and who are resident in Hanover can take part. They must be willing to participate regularly in buying cannabis and take part in scientific surveys.
All participants will receive a pseudonymised ID card that only they can use to shop at the distribution points. This ID card and a QR code on the packaging can be used to ensure that the legal dispensing quantity is kept in check. Anyone who passes products on to someone else will be immediately struck from the project.
READ ALSO: What to know about Germany's partial legalisation of cannabis
When is the project starting?
Sales of the drug are due to start at the beginning of 2025. Staff at the special outlets are to be trained so they are able to advise consumers on how to use the drug safely. If staff have any concerns, they will be able to intervene before an addiction develops, project leaders said.
Hanover's major, Belit Onay, of the Greens, said the city wanted to recognise "social realities".
"The number of drug users of all age groups in Germany is constantly increasing," said Onay, adding that this shows banning substances only works to a limited extend. He added that there are considerable health risks due to rising levels of the psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and impurities in cannabis products on the black market.
The city of Frankfurt in Hesse is also taking part in the pilot project to sell cannabis. Participants will be able to legally purchase cannabis flowers and other products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for five years in specialised shops set up specifically for this purpose.
According to information from the city, all participants must live in Frankfurt, be of legal age and in good health, and they have to take part in regular interviews and examinations.
Can anyone buy cannabis in these cities?
No. At this stage, only people who are participants in the pilot - which will likely be a few thousand - will be able to buy cannabis in the outlets.
There are also some guidelines on who can take part. For instance, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with mental illnesses and young people are all excluded from participation.
The study will be medically supervised.
What's the aim of the project?
The studies want to gather information on consumer behaviour, the effects on health and the black market.
"Our main interest is the scientific findings," said Sylvia Bruns (Free Democrats), head of Hanover's social affairs department. "We want to move away from assumptions and ideological debates."
"The data from this study could form an important basis for shaping a future-oriented drug policy in the future," said Professor Kirsten Müller-Vahl from the Hannover Medical School.
According to the city, a similar trial has already been carried out in the German city of Wiesbaden. As part of the project, cannabis was dispensed in selected pharmacies.
In the pilot project, both project partners are working with the Berlin-based company Sanity Group, which has specialised in the medical use of cannabis. The company has already been operating two sales outlets since the end of 2023 as part of a similar trial in Switzerland. It also recently conducted random samples of cannabis on the black market in 30 German cities, including Hanover.
What are Germany's cannabis laws?
Germany changed the law around cannabis on April 1st after several months of political wrangling. Under the first step, adults over 18 are now allowed to carry 25 grams of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana plants.
The next step came in July when Germany with the arrival of cannabis 'social clubs'. These regulated associations are allowed to have up to 500 members each, and are able to grow and distribute up to 50 grams of cannabis per person per month.
However, it got off to a bad start as several questions remained unanswered on which authorities are responsible for approving clubs or regulating their activities remain.
READ ALSO: Is Germany ready for the arrival of cannabis clubs?
Initial plans for cannabis to be sold via licensed shops were shelved due to EU opposition - so the government has now focused on the trial involving the sale of the drug in shops in pilot regions.
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