Hashish May Become Legal in Germany

Possession of hashish may be legalized in Germany if it is used for medical purposes. The relevant bill is likely to be proposed to German Bundestag in the course of this year.

A summer decision of a Cologne court broke Germany’s hardline policy towards hashish consumption, as it allowed three pain patients to grow and use cannabis for therapeutic purposes, the German newspaper “Die Welt” reported on Monday.

Cannabis is the most commonly consumed illicit drug in Germany. However, it is also often used in medicaments due to its anticonvulsant and analgesic effect. Such medicaments are a rescue for patients suffering severe pains, but they are usually not covered by health insurance companies due to its high price.

In summer 2014, a Cologne court allowed three pain patients to grow cannabis at home and use it as a painkiller.  However, the general stance of the federal government on this issue remains indefinite.

"My goal is that more people as before could get medical cannabis in the future," drug commissioner of the Federal Government, Marlene Mortler, told the newspaper, adding that the relevant bill is likely to be proposed to Bundestag over the course of 2015.

The drug commissioner also admitted that it is "not easy" to define who really needs cannabis as a medicine, adding that this issue should be clarified as soon as possible.