After the September elections in Germany, Angela Merkel’s long-lived Christian-Democrat government was succeeded by a new coalition government. The chancellor’s direct successor - Social Democrat Olaf Scholz - has formed a coalition with the progressive Green Party and the pro-business Free Democrats.

This new coalition has discussed the proposal for a regulated market for consumption and sale of marijuana, says Forbes. A more progressive drug policy, pertaining to regulated and taxed dispensaries, quality control, and effective youth protection laws. This discussion had started immediately after the September elections but was negotiated in strict confidentiality.

With this new law, Germany would be the second country in the European Union to legalize recreational cannabis use. Germany’s initiative has taken cues from the Maltese legalization act. In December 2021, Malta became the first EU country to legalize marijuana and set the stage for even more countries to take a significant step in their legislation concerning drug use and legality. With most countries in the world having flirted with the idea of decriminalization for years, the Netherlands being a popular example of decriminalization in Europe, it might be other countries’ turn to follow the progressive example.

Though lawmakers have stated against the reform being tax-focused, the Free Democratic Party (one part of the new governing coalition) has stated in its election manifesto that taxing cannabis like cigarettes could result in annual tax revenue of €1 billion.

A new report on health and care, agreed upon by the working groups in the coalition, strongly suggests the legislation would promote harm reduction by creating drug-checking services for people to have substances tested for contaminants and other harmful ingredients.