Germany is defunding the Republican Party's anti-marijuana efforts

The Republicans' argument against marijuana was hit hard by Germany

Contrary to public opinion, some members of the Republican Party are resisting cannabis debt restructuring and are trying to be smart about it. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is still having internal discussions about whether to change cannabis from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III controlled substance, with some in the Republican Party wanting to stop the process. But Germany comes and leaves its efforts behind.

Germany has the largest economy in the EU and is a leader in the United Nations and NATO. A convenient country, they just legalized marijuana. Legalization, officials shared, would undermine the criminal trade in the drug, protect it from harmful contaminants and give police the ability to prosecute more serious crimes in addition to providing medical services.

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Republican Senators Jim Risch (R-), Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Pete Ricketts (R-NB) are unhappy with the administration's plan to re-regulate marijuana. To stop or slow the process, these senators are questioning whether it violates U.S. treaty obligations. Data shows that 89% of citizens believe it should be legal in some form, so they are definitely swimming against the tide of public opinion. Additionally, science, data and healthcare have proven that it has clear medical benefits.

The United Nations (UN) drug control agency reiterated that the legalization of marijuana for non-medical or non-scientific purposes is a violation of international treaties. But there is no enforcement. While Uruguay was the first to do so technically, Canada was the first to fully implement it and the UN did nothing. Since then, Georgia, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, South Africa and Thailand have completed the move without any problems.

The senators' move has some support in the House of Representatives, but Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has made clear he wants progress on cannabis legalization. Germany's move significantly undermines Republican efforts.

Andrew Cooper, partner at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP, one of the leading cannabis law firms, believes: “If anything, the fact that Germany has approved cannabis for adult use despite all the hurdles (including not only the Single Convention, but also the Schengen Agreement) is legalized, a consequence of 1985, the EU Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA of 2004 and the Narcotic Drug Act (BtMG), where the USA actually only has to deal with the Single Convention (and probably ignore it), could the DEA give a certain impetus to follow her suit”.

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Tom Zuber, managing partner of Zuber Lawler, whose company has a strong cannabis division on the West Coast, said: “It is exciting to see Germany making history as the largest economy in the European Union by legalizing cannabis for recreational use. “I hope that Germany's leadership on this front will inspire other countries around the world to do the same, including the United States.