A working group appointed by the Luxembourg government has published its proposals for the pilot project to legalize cannabis in Luxembourg. The document, titled Experimental Device for Legal Access to Cannabis for Non-Medical Purposes, outlines projections for a fully legal adult cannabis market in the country, which will limit access to residents over the age of 18.
The recommendations allow possession of up to 3 grams of cannabis, cultivation of up to 4 plants at home, and a retail market where residents would be allowed to purchase a maximum of 5 grams per day, up to 30 grams per month.
One of the main recommendations of the plan is “that access to cannabis for non-medical purposes be regulated by a rigorous and solid pilot project, adapted to the specific needs of Luxembourg”.
The framework was drafted after consultation with an interdepartmental working group. The final document was then submitted for review by four international experts, Henri Bergeron, research director at the CNRS, Rebecca Jesseman, policy director at the Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction, Tomas Zabransky, Czech epidemiologist, and Steve Rolles, political analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation.
A pre-legalization in 2 phases
The first stage of the pilot project would consist in modifying the current legislation, the law of February 19, 1973, on the sale of medicinal substances.
Once the bill is passed, a maximum of 4 cannabis plants per household will be allowed for personal use. Cannabis consumption in public places will remain prohibited and strict rules will apply to distribution and sale.
The next phase will be devoted to developing a state-controlled cannabis production and sales chain. To this end, a pilot project will be set up to explore ways to improve the situation in the country. The experiment aims to determine how the sale of cannabis can be regulated, ensuring that access is only granted to people who meet the criteria, such as residing in Luxembourg and being over the age of 18. years.
It is planned to grant 2 production licenses and to create 14 points of sale in Luxembourg. The sale of cannabis in public places will remain prohibited and places of consumption will not be authorized. To launch the project, a study is being conducted at the Luxembourg Institute for Social Research and Market Studies (Ilres) to analyze current consumer behavior in the country. A survey will be conducted among 3,000 people. The results will be available by the end of the year.
The objectives of the Luxembourg government combine public health and safety. On the prevention side, the main objectives are to reduce the consumption of high-risk cannabis, in particular by ensuring a quality product. On the security side, Luxembourg wants to gradually eliminate the illicit cannabis market by reducing organized crime linked to narcotics and keeping consumers away from criminal circles.
Europe of legalization
Luxembourg is the first country in Europe to announce its intention to allow an adult cannabis market as part of its government policy. The agreement finalizing the formation of the new coalition government in 2018 contained a provision for the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis.
The agreement stated: “Legislation on the recreational use of cannabis will be developed. Its main objectives will be to decriminalise, or even legalise, under conditions that remain to be determined, the production on Luxembourg territory, as well as the purchase, possession and recreational use of cannabis for the personal needs of adult residents; to get consumers out of the black market; resolutely reduce the mental and physical dangers associated with it; and tackling supply-side crime. »
Since Luxembourg’s historic announcement in 2018, many other countries in Europe have made changes to their cannabis policies, such as Malta becoming the first country in Europe to allow access to recreational cannabis.
Other countries changing their position on cannabis for adult use include Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands or Portugal.
