German Law Professors Support Legalization

A coalition of 122 German law professors, led by Lorenz Böllinger, professor of criminal law at Bremen University, are strongly pushing for the national legalization of cannabis in Germany.

Interestingly enough, the arguments for and against echo those same arguments in America. I suspect this is the case anywhere on the globe in which this debate is raging. This coalition of professors is seeking bi-partisan support for their movement in parliament.

Critics of legalization appear to be touting the same watery foundational arguments as they do in the States. Germany’s commissioner on drug issues “strongly rejects the legalization of cannabis, pointing to health risks. ‘We must not underestimate the health risks for young people, in particular,’ reads a statement on the commissioner’s website. ‘Regular cannabis consumption leads to considerable health damage, and can lead to psychoses and addiction.'”

The fact remains (and the science backs it up) that “considerable health damage, psychoses, and addiction” are far from common (some facets are wholly unproven) and are extremely rare. For comparison, more people die every year from peanuts than from cannabis. We can say the same about booze or tobacco, both fully legal and protected despite their atrocious track record on public health/safety.

Supporters of legalization, like supporters in America, point out that the main reason that cannabis is associated with danger/ruined lives is that it is unjustly labeled a criminal offense. The law is the problem, not the plant.

“Cannabis, says Böllinger, is only dangerous for people who have an inclination for addiction anyway. And if the drug were legal, he argues, there would be the option of educating young people about the risks of marijuana consumption – much like prevention campaigns about alcohol and cigarette consumption…Marijuana consumers are being criminalized because they are forced to buy the drug expensively off black market dealers. They could get involved with the wrong people. It can ruin young people’s lives – and most of those who try weed are young people – if they are caught and the charge appears on their criminal record. They may have difficulty getting a job, or could be stripped off their driving license, etc. In short, it could send them off the rails.”

An estimated 3 million Germans regularly consume cannabis with an estimated 12 million who have used it in the past.

Keep fighting, German Stoners. I live in Washington state and there was a time I didn’t think we’d ever see legalization either.