Cognizant of developments in the United States in Colorado and Washington state, Moroccan social media has been abuzz this summer with a seemingly unlikely possibility: the legalization of cannabis. Activists and politicians in Morocco are close to firming up a date later this month for the parliament to host a seminar on the economic implications of legalization. The powerful Party of Authenticity and Modernity will chair the daylong seminar. This has led some commentators to speculate that the move may even have the blessing of the monarchy. In recent years, despite improvements in production, both small farmers and big producers have seen their cannabis-related income plummet. 

It may be the next big thing after the cannabidiol (CBD) wave and its controversies: HHC, also known as “synthetic cannabis”. HHC sellers tout the euphoric sensations and mental and physical relaxation it brings. But health professionals worry it could get people hooked, and say it should be regulated. HHC stands for hexahydrocannabinol, a semi-synthetic molecule. That means it needs to be made in a laboratory, where the THC extracted from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) is combined with hydrogen molecules. HHC emerged in late 2021 in the United States and then became popular in Europe in 2022, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

What forms of cannabis regulation are under consideration in Europe? What types of cannabis are controlled? Are cosmetic and wellness products containing cannabis legal? These are among the questions answered in a new report out today from the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). The report — Cannabis laws in Europe: questions and answers for policymaking— addresses key issues and frequently-asked questions around cannabis legislation in Europe. The speed, and possible scope of, cannabis policy change and the potential impact of these changes on public health and safety, are among the factors which prompted the EMCDDA to publish the report. Updating a 2017 review, the report describes the state of play of cannabis policies and laws in Europe and current approaches to regulation and control.

La colaboración entre grupos criminales dedicados al tráfico de cannabis está creando “nuevos riesgos de seguridad” en Europa, donde el mercado de esta droga tiene un valor de al menos 11.400 millones de euros al año y mueve productos “cada vez más potentes y diversos”. Un análisis publicado por Europol y el Observatorio Europeo de Drogas y Toxicomanías (OEDT) señala que el del cannabis es el mayor mercado de drogas en Europa, y se estima que unos 22,6 millones de adultos europeos de entre 15 y 64 años han consumido esta sustancia en el último año. Las cantidades incautadas en la Unión Europea (UE) alcanzaron en 2021 sus niveles más altos en una década.

En Luxembourg chaque ménage sera autorisé à cultiver quatre plants. Il revient par contre aussi sur l’annonce en grande pompe de la légalisation du cannabis, datant de 2018, et qui est désormais mise entre parenthèses. «La crise sanitaire est venue nous rappeler notre vulnérabilité. Le pays peut rapidement se retrouver isolé si un pays voisin décide de fermer ses frontières. L’espace Schengen n’est pas à ignorer», avançait la ministre de la Justice, Sam Tanson, pour expliquer le coup de frein subit par le projet de légalisation du cannabis récréatif. L’AFP est plus claire : «(…) le gouvernement du libéral Xavier Bettel a revu ses ambitions à la baisse pour ménager ses relations avec les pays voisins, notamment avec la France qui craignait l’émergence d’un lieu de trafic à ses frontières».

Luxembourg has ambitions to legalize recreational cannabis and convince other European countries to do the same. The Duchy would legalize the entire cannabis market, from issuing licenses for its production to legalizing its consumption, under a highly regulated structure. The health ministry is slated to unveil a proposal to start the legislative process this fall, and the goal is for it to become law within two years. It would ban home cultivation and likely impose an age restriction — possibly 18 — for purchase. Health Minister Etienne Schneider also envisions prohibition on purchases by non-residents, as a way to avoid drug tourism. He admits it will be difficult striking a balance between keeping borders open and regulating this new market, especially if Luxembourg's neighbors fear undesired spillover.

The Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) will be organising the first training on harm reduction for those Associations which have reached an advanced stage of application to form a 'Cannabis Harm Reduction Association'. This was announced during Malta’s second ministerial conference on the legislation concerning the responsible use of cannabis with representatives from Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic discussed developments related to rules and laws on the use of cannabis that is not for medical or scientific purposes. The Maltese Parliament partially legalised the recreational use of cannabis in December 2021, allowing the possession of up to seven grams of cannabis and the growing of four plants at home.

The introduction of a legal, regulated cannabis market in the Czech Republic may end up in the European Court of Justice, said drug policy coordinator Jindrich Voboril. He believed this to be the best option, as prohibition has been proven not to work and only brings costs and risks. Voboril's draft proposes the authorisation of domestic and commercial cultivation of cannabis, special clubs for recreational use, and licensed sale in shops for people over 18. Given the European legislation and the fact that the Czech government is now the only one in the EU envisaging a commercial market for recreational cannabis, it is likely that another member state will challenge the measure in the European Court of Justice. (See also: We are waiting for Germany to legalize cannabis, says Minister Válek)

Während die Reform der Cannabispolitik in Amerika Fahrt aufnimmt, scheint Europa hinterherzuhinken. Genauer gesagt, die europäischen Staaten auf nationaler Regierungsebene, wo die Leugnung der Veränderungen in der politischen Landschaft und die Trägheit bei der Reaktion auf Forderungen nach einem Wandel noch immer vorherrschen. Auf lokaler Ebene hingegen führt die Ernüchterung hinsichtlich der aktuellen Cannabispolitik zur Entstehung neuer Ideen. In verschiedenen europäischen Ländern prüfen lokale und regionale Behörden eine Regulierung, entweder unter dem Druck von Basisbewegungen – vor allem den Cannabis Social Clubs(CSC) – oder wegen der Verstrickung krimineller Gruppen und zur Aufrechterhaltung der öffentlichen Ordnung.

Publikation speichern (PDF)

Durante el otoño de 2021 experimentamos en España la que, posiblemente, haya sido la mayor presencia en el debate público del cannabis y de su regulación. Nunca se había hablado tanto de este asunto en el espacio público, ni de una forma tan comprehensiva. Me refiero a que, desde los discursos en el Congreso de los Diputados hasta los encabezados de los medios de comunicación, no se daba cuenta simplemente de tasas de prevalencia, número de detenciones o plantas incautadas (que también) sino que se mostraba un abanico de cuestiones muy amplias que han de ser contempladas a la hora de explicar, y comprender, un fenómeno social tan amplio como es el del cannabis y su regulación: ¿Regulamos únicamente el cannabis medicinal, o también el uso adulto recreativo?

El coordinador de drogas del Gobierno de República Checa, Jindrich Voboril, está dispuesto a llegar al Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea (TJUE) para defender el proyecto de legalización del cannabis en el país. Así lo explicó Voboril el pasado fin de semana durante su conferencia en la Cannabis Summit de Praga, en la que se mostró dispuesto a tratar de llevar el proyecto de regulación adelante a pesar de los obstáculos legales que impone la Unión Europea. El proyecto de regulación del cannabis de República Checa fue incluido como parte del plan de adicciones nacional aprobado hace un mes.

Health Minister Étienne Schneider hopes that the controlled legalization of recreational cannabis in the Grand Duchy will come into force within two years. For him, the prohibition model in place for 40 years "failed". He is aware that the neighbouring countries - France, Germany and Belgium - are worried, he explains in an interview. "I do not want to risk the day when France, Belgium or Germany reintroduce border controls to prevent cannabis from being exported from Luxembourg to their country. For the moment, we have had some discussions with Germany. France, not yet, but it will come. Currently, we are working on the content of our project. The strategic note will be discussed at the Council of Ministers at the end of the recess." (Lire aussi: Pas de «coffee shop» à venir au Luxembourg)

El CBD se ha convertido en uno de los productos derivados de la marihuana que mayor popularidad ha ganado en toda España, a pesar de su polémico origen. Un exitoso componente de la planta del cannabis, cuya comercialización ha sido aprobada por el Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea (TJUE). Concretamente, la legislación española no cuenta con amplios instrumentos legales que establezcan regulaciones y controles en torno a la comercialización del CBD. Por este motivo, para onocer el estado de legalidad de este popular y beneficioso componente de la marihuana, es necesario acudir a las normativas internacionales de estupefacientes.

Director of the Cannabis Licensing Authority, Delano Seiveright, encouraged European stakeholders to continue to pursue further cannabis-related reforms in their respective countries as it will, in part, assist “small developing states like Jamaica to further deepen its cannabis liberalisation efforts so as to bring much-needed benefits to small traditional farmers who are suffering from marginalisation due to complicated laws and regulations brought on by geopolitical realities, and to foster growth and development in emerging market economies”. Much more is needed to be done to ensure the full incorporation of small traditional players who need to be brought into the regulated environment. (See also: CLA director lobbys Europe to push cannabis reforms)

Should draft legislation clear the final hurdles in the next few weeks, Morocco could become the second Arab country to legalize cannabis. Lebanon was the first in 2020. Cannabis legalization has been suggested before in Morocco. It is hard to know whether the draft law will pass, Khalid Mouna, an associate anthropology professor at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes. Mouna said that had mostly been a tactic to gain the support of voters in deprived cannabis-growing areas. This time could be different, said Tom Blickman, a researcher on international drugs policy for the Amsterdam-based Transnational Institute. "I think it's serious because the initiative comes from the government, and behind the government is the palace," he said, referring to the Moroccan royal family. "Previous proposals came from the opposition."

“For some years, there was the possibility to regulate [cannabis in Spain] and keep it in the hands of those who aren’t crime-related,” said Óscar Parés, deputy director of the Barcelona-based ICEERS, speaking of past efforts to regulate cannabis clubs in regions of Spain like Catalonia. “We missed the train somehow.” Catalonia is home to some of the world’s oldest cannabis consumption spaces, with the first club opening in Barcelona in 2001. As of 2023, Catalonian law enforcement estimates there are 450 cannabis clubs in the region. Catalonia’s clubs have become a model for other European countries looking to legalize cannabis consumption without running afoul of EU and international law.

Swiss drug policy is shifting. Some pharmacies and social clubs in major cities are making cannabis available for recreational purposes under scientific pilot projects. There is even talk of extending such trials to cocaine. The scientific pilot SCRIPT will make cannabis available for sale in pharmacies in the Swiss capital Bern, along with the cities of Lucerne and Biel. The goal is to evaluate what impact a regulated, not-for-profit sale of cannabis coupled with advisory services may have on cannabis consumption. It is one of several pilot trials planned across Switzerland. In June, Bern’s city parliament overwhelmingly approved a motion from the Alternative Left party calling on the city to conduct a scientific pilot trial of controlled cocaine sales.  

The lower house of Switzerland’s Federal Assembly approved a bill paving the way for a pilot research program that would permit the temporary production and distribution of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes. While an important milestone, the vote in early June is also symbolic of the sluggish pace at which recreational legalization is occurring in Europe. While approving the project, a majority of National Council legislators rejected proposals that would have limited the experiment’s size and scope – a sign that the lower house is committed to moving forward with the project. Now the Council of States will debate and vote on the bill. Local experts expect the project to be approved.

In the Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2002 that was released on February 26, the president of the Board, Dr. Philip O. Emafo from Nigeria, launches a strong attack against groups that advocate legalisation or decriminalisation of drug offences, as well as groups "that favour a crusade" focusing only on harm reduction. Mr. Emafo's attack reflects how out of touch the president of the INCB is with current developments in inter­national drug control. If anyone is involved in a "crusade' with "missionary zeal', it is Mr. Emafo himself, trying to turn back accepted best practices in countering the adverse effects of problematic drug use. Mr. Emafo gives a completely distorted picture of the political acceptance of the harm reduction concept.

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The European Commission has published its new EU drug strategy (now called the Drugs Agenda), which is part of a wider Security Union strategy entitled “Delivering on a Security Union: initiatives to fight child sexual abuse, drugs and illegal firearms.” While I celebrated the previous Action Plan as the most progressive ever, I think this document has come as a disappointment for civil society organisations that have been advocating for a sensible, balanced approach in drug policies. Here are 4 reasons why.