Germany and the Czech Republic are not the only European countries considering the legalization of cannabis. Even if it is smaller, Luxembourg has also been working on regulating the personal use of cannabis since an announcement made in 2018.
However, the country seeks to respect both European law and international law which, according to conservative interpretations, restricts the cultivation and/or consumption of cannabis for non-medical use.
Europe and cannabis legalization
Contacted by the Luxembourg media The Dailythe European Commission tells them that European law “prohibits the culture [non-médicale] of the cannabis plant, but does not cover personal drug use”.
“It is therefore up to the Member States to decide how to tackle the personal consumption of drugs, including cannabis”, specify the Commission services.
The Luxembourg Council of State came to the same conclusion: “The bill (…), in that it is limited to the authorization of the cultivation of a number of plants for the sole purpose of personal consumption , under strict conditions (…), contrary to extensive legalisation, is (…) not contrary to European Union law”.
The Luxembourg government therefore intends to take advantage of this legal possibility.
What are the risks of legalizing?
In its project, Germany also seeks to receive the non-disagreement of Europe as to its wish to legalize cannabis. If the intention seems honourable, the risks of a disagreement are non-existent, whether at European or international level.
Malta has thus become the first European country to end the prohibition of cannabis, without possible sanction, just as Uruguay and Canada have legalized cannabis without legal consequences. The INCB, the international narcotics control body, simply recalls at regular intervals its pro-prohibition position and criticizes countries or states that have adopted legal cannabis regulations.
For a complete legalization of cannabis, and not just for personal use, Luxembourg is already planning to set up a legalization experiment for scientific purposes, a system authorized by international conventions and already set up in Switzerland with the trials- legalization pilots in some cities.
