German Drug Commissioner interviewed on proposed cannabis clearance: “A ride on the razor blade”

Berlin. On January 12, SPD politician Burkhard Blienert was appointed the federal government’s new drug commissioner at the suggestion of Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD). The 55-year-old was a member of the Bundestag in the grand coalition from 2013 to 2017. During his time as drug policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Blienert made a name for himself because he was one of the first Social Democrats to advocate a change of course for his party in drug policy and the Demand raised for a release of cannabis.

Mr. Blienert, you are seen as a pioneer in legalizing cannabis. Now you can have a significant say in the release as drug officer. How does that make you feel?

It’s great that I can now help shape what I’ve been campaigning for for years. What we are planning is a real paradigm shift in drug and addiction policy. In my new role, I am concerned with protecting and helping consumers and not with punishment. With the controlled and regulated sale of cannabis in Germany , we will make European history. As the largest EU country, we set an example for other states. I approach this task with fun, but also with great respect and a certain humility.

Let’s get specific: When can cannabis be legally bought in Germany?

The subject is extremely complex and full of pitfalls. It makes no sense to jump straight into legalization now if the sales outlets will have to close again a little later because we forgot something. This is not a law that can be easily shaken out of the blue. But there is already a lot of preparatory work that we can build on, such as the Greens’ draft for a cannabis control law.

Read full interview

https://www.rnd.de/politik/wann-ist-cannabis-legal-drogenbeauftragter-burkhard-blienert-im-rnd-interview-S54474WRJZGIJNO2I2BDSNV2QE.html