Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - According to a Hessian addiction expert, the controlled release of cannabis planned by the federal government is to be welcomed in principle. "This creates a regulated market for adults," explained Heino Stöver, head of the Institute for Addiction Research (ISFF) at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Expected effects would be the collapse of the cannabis black market, which would lead to higher tax revenues instead of billions in profits for organized crime.
According to the coalition agreement, the federal government wants to introduce "controlled sales of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops". This would "control the quality, prevent the transfer of contaminated substances and ensure the protection of minors," it says. The exact time is still unclear. According to a study by the German Hemp Association, the state could take in 1.8 billion euros annually from the cannabis tax.
"Cannabis is a drug that is dangerous to health like any other - whether alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs. There is no such thing as risk-free consumption," emphasized Susanne Schmitt, Managing Director of the Hessian State Office for Addiction Issues (HLS). But she also says: Approval could lead to positive effects, such as a reduction in health risks through higher product quality. Both Stöver and Schmitt emphasized that comprehensive regulations would be needed in the event of legalization.
Since 2017, patients in Germany have been able to have a doctor prescribe cannabis for medical purposes. One of the leading wholesalers for medicinal cannabis is the Hessian company Cansativa from Mörfelden-Walldorf. There, too, the planned legalization of recreational cannabis is being eagerly awaited. "We expect a lot from that," says Cansativa.
