Luxembourg is leading Europe into the cannabis era

By Jelena Martinovic

Adult Luxembourgers will soon be allowed to grow cannabis for private consumption, reports The Guardian.

The announcement made by the Luxembourg government on Friday addresses fundamental changes in the country’s approach to recreational cannabis use.

The new law will allow people over the age of 18 to legally grow up to four cannabis plants per household for personal use.

Photo by Joe Daniel Price / Getty Images

The legislation also allows seeds to be traded with no limits on the amount or content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In addition to importing seeds, they will be available in stores and online under the new legislation that also provides for the domestic production of cannabis seeds for commercial purposes. However, plans for a national production chain and government-regulated distribution are currently on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Therefore, the public consumption and transport of cannabis and cannabis products as well as the trade in cannabis products, with the exception of seeds, remain prohibited.

In addition, the consumption and transport of quantities up to 3 grams is classified as an administrative offense and not a criminal offense.

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Although medical marijuana has been legal in Luxembourg since 2018, officials announced plans in 2019 to legalize cannabis for adult use within two years. The latest breakthrough follows the adoption of a legislative motion in May calling for the development of legal cannabis regulations.

A bill designed to keep potential consumers away from the illegal market

Attorney General Sam Tamson called the changes to domestic production and consumption the first step towards full legalization of the plant.

“We thought we had to act, we have a problem with drugs, and cannabis is the most widely used drug and a big part of the illicit market,” said Tamson.

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Luxembourgers who wish to grow cannabis are allowed to do so in their place of residence, indoors or outdoors, on a balcony, terrace or garden.

“We want to start with so people can grow it at home,” Tamson continued. “The idea is that when a user is using cannabis, they are not in an illegal situation, and that we do not support the entire illegal chain from production to transport to sale, where there is a lot of misery involved. We want to do everything we can to escape the illegal black market more and more. “

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There are currently no fully legal countries for adult cannabis use in Europe. Luxembourg is about to become the first country on the old continent to legalize the cultivation and use of cannabis.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.