The tiny land-locked nation of Luxembourg is lining itself up to become the first European country to make cannabis legal.
Luxembourg’s health minister – Etienne Schneider – announced to the 600,000 population that recreational use of marijuana could be within reach for them within two years.
The 48-year-old politician also called upon his European counterparts to also look at relaxing their drug laws surrounding the growing, possession and use of cannabis.
“This drug policy we had over the last 50 years did not work,” he told Politico.
“Forbidding everything made it just more interesting to young people … I’m hoping all of us will get a more open-minded attitude toward drugs.”
It is understood Luxembourg will press ahead with legalisation by 2021 with a state-regulated cannabis agency controlling production and distribution.
A draft bill covering the type of marijuana to be sold and the tax implications is expected to be tabled this autumn.
Addressing the potential problem of ‘drug tourism’, Mr Schneider said the bill would likely carry a clause preventing non-Luxembourg citizens purchasing cannabis.
Although anticipated to be actioned within two years, a coalition between the country’s Liberals, Green Party and Social Democrats has agreed on a deadline of five years for legislation.
The move would see Luxembourg join Canada, 11 US states and Uruguay in dismissing the United Nations convention on the control of drugs. As reported here by The Leaf Desk, Mexico is also set to make a similar announcement
The use of medical cannabis is already legal in Luxembourg, and the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal recreational use has been decriminalised. However, it is currently illegal to purchase, sell or grow cannabis.
