Jump to content

Grassroots revolution: the road to legal cannabis


Joolz

Recommended Posts

Olivier THIBAULT and Emilie BICKERTON

In Spain cannabis users are allowed to grow pot for private use at home (Geoff Robins)

In Spain cannabis users are allowed to grow pot for private use at home (Geoff Robins)

 

Germany is set to join the global cannabis revolution on Monday, with a law coming into effect legalising recreational use of the drug.

It is the first big European country to legalise the possession and consumption of small amounts of the drug by adults and one of only two among the G7 group of leading world powers, with Canada.

 

Here is a quick recap of the situation worldwide:

 

- Uruguay the trailblazer -

The real pioneer is the small South American country of Uruguay, which in 2013 became the first in the world to legalise the production, distribution and consumption of recreational cannabis.

Residents can buy up to 40 grams a month from pharmacies, grow it themselves or join cannabis clubs where members tend the plants together.

In South and Central America, only Mexico has followed its lead, the country's Supreme Court decriminalising the recreational use of cannabis in 2021.

 

- Europeans light up -

In Europe, Portugal led the way back in 2001 with a radical measure on all drugs, decriminalising consumption and possession, though users still face fines, unless they agree to be treated for addiction.

In Spain, cannabis users are allowed to grow pot for private use at home but selling the drug or smoking it in public is banned.

 

The first EU member to actively legalise recreational cannabis was tiny Malta in 2021, but lighting up a joint in public is still not permitted.

 

Despite popular belief, it is also restricted in the Netherlands, where the sale and consumption of cannabis is limited to the country's famed "coffee shops".

In December, however, the country began a four-year trial to decriminalise the production and supply of the drug.

 

- California dreaming -

Cannabis is a multibillion dollar business, with more than half of all US states having legalised recreational and medicinal cannabis use, including California and New York.

Under federal law cannabis is still illegal, but in practice the law is not enforced.

 

President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of cannabis possession.

Over the border, Canada in 2018 became the second country in the world to allow adults light up with impunity.

 

- Africa's green gold -

The tiny southern African country of Lesotho was Africa's first to green-light the cultivation of medicinal cannabis in 2017.

But the real game-changer came in 2018, when South Africa legalised cannabis for personal use.

 

The South African government has lofty ambitions for the cannabis sector, which it forecasts could create up to 25,000 jobs.

 

- Thai rethink -

Thailand had also hoped to cash in on cannabis when it took the drug off its list of banned narcotics in June 2022.

But the proliferation of cannabis shops, particularly in Bangkok, prompted a rethink.

The government last month announced plans to ban the use of cannabis "for fun" over fears it could act as a gateway to other drugs.

 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/grassroots-revolution-road-legal-cannabis-062053931.html

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Joolz said:

- Thai rethink -

Thailand had also hoped to cash in on cannabis when it took the drug off its list of banned narcotics in June 2022.

But the proliferation of cannabis shops, particularly in Bangkok, prompted a rethink.

The government last month announced plans to ban the use of cannabis "for fun" over fears it could act as a gateway to other drugs.

 

The weed I scored there this month was wonderfully grown, dried and cured. Not cheap though. The few people I spoke to said the cat has already been let out of the bag, as it were, and would be very surprised if the decision was reversed

 

Yes there was loads of weed shops in Bangkok but to be honest they were hardly packed with people. The worst place we saw was Rawai in Phuket. It was a shit hole (Rawai) anyway but every other shop was a weed shop. But then again hardly different from your average high street here with takeaway after takeaway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It will always be seen as a gateway drug in the uk , it will never be legal for rec , not in our time anyways , I’ll eat my hat if they do lol 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy Terms of Use