France’s new prime minister Jean Castex announced plans to introduce on-the-spot fines for some drug offences amid mounting concern about over-stretched policing after a series of violent episodes in urban areas. The new penalties will allow police to “apply a sanction without delay” and help in the struggle against drug dealing, said Castex.  The nationwide shift to on-the-spot penalties, following local pilots, will target low-level dealers and users of cannabis and other drugs as part of a broader law enforcement struggle against urban gangs and petty crime. (See also: France to fight cannabis use with €200 on-the-spot fines)

France is Europe’s biggest cannabis consumer, despite having some of the continent’s toughest laws against the drug. In response to this failure of the law to act as a deterrent, a group of MPs from across the political spectrum have launched an initiative to shift the terms of the debate on this issue. The first step in these MPs’ bid to encourage the French political class to be more open to the idea of legalising cannabis was a citizens’ consultation launched on January 13. More than 175,000 people responded on the Assemblée Nationale’s website – compared to an average of 30,000 responses to such consultations. This consultation, open until February 28, has two objectives: to better understand the French public’s views about cannabis, and to understand what government policies people want.

El primer ministro francés, Jean Castex, anunció que se interpondrá una multa de 200 euros a los consumidores de drogas a partir del inicio del curso escolar en septiembre, medida que ya está en prueba en varias ciudades del país. La criminalización de los delitos de estupefacientes "se generalizará a partir del regreso a clase", anunció el jefe del gobierno. Esta medida ayudará a las fuerzas del orden a "aplicar una sanción sin demora" y debería ser eficaz "contra los puntos de reventa que gangrenan los barrios", afirmó. Esta multa de 200 euros, que se aplicará a todas las drogas pero se dirige en primer lugar a los consumidores de cannabis, está en prueba en Rennes (oeste) y en Reims (este) desde hace algunas semanas y, en septiembre, se extenderá a todo el territorio.

Experts met to discuss the merits of cannabis legalization at Frankfurt’s city hall, marking the first time that a German city has officially discussed a change to marijuana laws. Rosemarie Heilig, deputy head of the city health department in Frankfurt, proposed a new drug policy, dubbed the "Frankfurter Path," which stresses counseling and therapy instead of punishment. Heilig said the debate on marijuana has been "bogged down for decades and ideologically charged," and called for a "pragmatic approach” to the problem. Earlier this year, the Schildow Circle signed a petition advising the government to legalize the drug.

Last summer in France, dozens of “CBD cafés” suddenly opened across the country. Exploiting a legal loophole originally created for hemp farmers, these pop-up businesses sold queuing customers oils, drinks and salves infused with cannabidiol, a cannabis compound that is a faddish if unproven “cure” for insomnia, anxiety and more. The French government reacted quickly and by mid-June had officially prohibited the sale of CBD. The CBD cafés vanished within a month. But France’s brief experiment with cannabidiol seems to have started a movement to legalize cannabis, which has been illegal since 1970.

It is ironic, but if Malta does end up legalising recreational cannabis, one quiet man from Wales may be the one to thank for it. Prior to 2011, there were passionate activists fighting for better cannabis laws on the island – but I, like many others of my generation, only got involved in organising and lobbying for legalisation after the brutal imprisonment of Daniel Holmes in Malta. After his story sent shockwaves throughout the cannabis community, making many of us believe the island was moving towards an ultra-conservative USA-style police state where people could face serious jail time for growing plants at home, a number of people began organising.

The Government of Ireland should increase funding to residential drug treatment facilities to provide an alternative to custodial sentences for convicted people dealing with problematic drug use, a Citizens’ Assembly has said. Some 85 per cent of members opposed retaining the current criminal justice approach to personal drug possession, instead calling for a health-led approach to illegal drug use. The citizens voted by 39 to 38 for a comprehensive health-led strategy, rather than legalisation of cannabis. The assembly has been meeting since April to consider changes to drug policy, with a final report now to be prepared on its recommendations and sent to Government. (See also: Citizens' Assembly on Drugs ends in disarray)

A call has been made for the government to declare an amnesty on all arrests for the possession of under one pound of marijuana. The plea from the Ganja Future Growers Producers Association was made following the death of Mario Deane who was in the custody of the State. Deane was arrested and held at the Barnett Street police station lock-up in western Jamaica for possession of a marijuana spliff. While in custody, he was beaten and died in hospital a few days later.

The law effectively clears the way for the decriminalisation of two ounces of marijuana, making possession a ticketable offence. Under the amended law, the Rastafarian community will have the opportunity to use ganja as part of its religious sacrament. National Security Minister Peter Bunting told his parliamentary colleagues that the implementation of the new law would take some time, as regulations would have to be developed and the Cannabis Licensing Authority established. This oversight body would have responsibility for establishing a lawful regulated hemp and medicinal ganja industry.

The Ganja Growers and Producers Association Jamaica (GGPAJ) has called for an immediate two-year incentive programme for marijuana cultivators, especially for small, traditional, Rastafarian and indigenous farmers, many of whom have been excluded from the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA)-regulated industry. Richard Crawford, president of the GGPAJ, made the call at the seventh anniversary of the approval of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act. "It is is socially, morally, culturally and economically wrong that those persons constituting the small and traditional ganja cultivators.. who were hounded, beaten, prosecuted, arrested, convicted, criminalised for growing ganja.. are being left behind."

Until recently anyone caught with cannabis twice in 12 months in Georgia faced up to 14 years behind bars. Today you can carry enough for over 200 joints, after the constitutional court in effect decriminalised possession of the drug. The landmark ruling follows the case of 27-year-old Beka Tsikarishvili who was arrested in 2013 with 65 grams of cannabis, which he said was for his own use. Facing a long sentence, he argued imprisonment was unlawful because it infringed his human dignity. (See also: Georgia: Innovation, advocacy and drug decriminalization | Georgia court rules in favour of cannabis possession, but will it make a difference?)

Cannabis is illegal in Germany, but each state has different regulations on how much is allowed for personal possession. Germany's drug commissioner called for a nationwide standard for the amount of cannabis allowed for personal possession. Daniela Ludwig told the FunkeMedia Group that it is "difficult" when each German state has different regulations. A person in possession of only "a small amount" of the drug can, according to the law, avoid prosecution. In Hamburg, a small amount is six grams, while in Berlin 15 grams are allowed.

The German government adopted a watered-down plan to legalise cannabis, moving one step closer to the substance’s controlled distribution, though critiques from judicial, medical and law enforcement associations persist. The bill gives citizens the right to own up to three plants or 25g of the once-illicit substance, and create ‘social clubs’ to distribute cannabis. When the new German government took office in late 2021, legalising the consumption of cannabis was made a priority – both the Greens and the liberal FDP had made legalisation a key campaign promise to young voters. Plans for a comprehensive framework were delayed for months, while the research arm of the Bundestag, the German parliament, raised concerns about the plan’s compatibility with EU law. (See also: Germany unveils bill to legalize cannabis)

Recreational use of cannabis is set to become legal in Germany. The government has agreed the final draft of the legislation that will be discussed and voted on in the Bundestag next year. According to the latest draft, the bill is set to be less strict than previously planned. Possession of up to 50 grams will be allowed - instead of 25g. Criminal liability will only apply from people being in possession of 60g in private areas, and from 30g in public areas. The possession and consumption of cannabis will remain prohibited for young people under the age of 18. In a second later phase, the government plans to set up so-called "model cities" that will pilot the sale of weed in licensed shops. (See also: Ent­kri­mi­na­li­sie­rung zum 1. April 2024)

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir released the updated legalization plans, scaling back the framework announced last year. There will not be a country-wide commercial cannabis market as originally envisioned. Instead, adults wiil be allowed to possess up to 25 grams and grow up to three plants for personal use, while permitting nonprofit cannabis “clubs” with a maximum of 500 members. The plan would involve authorizing dispensaries in “certain districts/cities in several federal states” throughout Germany that would be licensed for five years, to study the impact of the shops on consumption trends and the illicit market. (See also: Germany waters down plan to legalize cannabis after EU talks | Germany's two-step plan to legalize cannabis)

Social Democratic Party (SPD) health expert Karl Lauterbach ourged the SPD, Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) hoping to form Germany's next government to legalize cannabis should they come to power. Speaking with the Rheinische Post newspaper, Lauterbach said, "I was against legalizing cannabis for years. But now, as a doctor, I have come to a different conclusion." His change of heart was prompted by the fact that police now report finding other substances mixed into cannabis. Lauterbach said legalization would protect consumers. Coalition negotiations between the SPD, Green Party and the FDP are ongoing, with many of those involved voicing optimism about the prospects of success in forming a government. (See also: Why Germany could be on the brink of legalising cannabis)

The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) are set to engage in coalition talks in a bid to become the next German government. And the future of cannabis will likely be one of the topics to be thrashed out. In drug policy, the three parties are not too far apart in their positions. So it’s possible that the drug could be decriminalised. The leader of the Liberal FDP, Christian Lindner, has now come out in favour of allowing cannabis products such as hashish to be sold in a controlled manner. Consumers should be allowed “to purchase a quantity for their own use, for example, in a pharmacy after health education,” Lindner told a live broadcast on German daily Bild on Sunday.

Cannabis has become a part of everyday culture in Germany and now, policymaking. The coalition government of center-left Social Democrats (SPD), environmentalist Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) stated clearly: "We are introducing the controlled supply of recreational cannabis to adults in licensed shops." To turn these words into practical policies, however, is proving to be a monumental task. It involves almost every federal government ministry, which makes the legislative process very complex. Although all signs point toward legalization, a cannabis consumer gets caught in the net of the police and judicial system every three minutes. That is why activists are calling for the consumption of cannabis to be decriminalized immediately as a first step, something provided for in the UN conventions.

With watershed elections looming in Germany, some politicians are talking about a new approach to drug control. The opposition Free Democrats (FDP), for whom civil liberties are a major issue, have called for the limited and legal sale to adults of "cannabis for leisure consumption." In view of growing global sales of cannabis for medical purposes and private pleasure, the business-friendly FDP is even looking to turn "Cannabis Made in Germany" into a lucrative export product. Four of the six parties currently represented in the Bundestag, the German parliament, are committed to backing an end to the cannabis prohibition policy.

Governor-General Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac has announced that the government will be proposing a Cannabis Bill to govern the industry in Saint Lucia. Under the bill, simple possession of cannabis will no longer be an indictable offence. Cenac — who made the announcement while delivering his Throne Speech at the Sixth Session of the Eleventh Parliament of Saint Lucia today — did not give a timeline for the presentation of the bill. The governor-general said the initiative is intended to support the creation of jobs and boost the economy. The bill will also address the purchase, distribution and selling of cannabis and will prohibit the use of cannabis in specified circumstances. (See also: Governor General on Cannabis: “Simple possession will no longer be an indictable offence”)