Luxembourg has become the first European country to officially legalize Cannabis.
The draft legislation for the small country, surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany, will be finished by the end of the year, with residents over the age of 18 able to purchase the drug by 2021.
Luxembourg has become the first country in Europe to legalise Cannabis. Residents over the age of 18 will be able to purchase the drug in 2021.
Etienne Schneider, Luxembourg’s Health Minister said:
“This drug policy we had over the last 50 years did not work. 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.”
Residents between ages 12 and 17 won’t be criminalised for possessing the drug (5 grams or less), although they will face hefty fines.
Luxembourg follows in the footsteps of Canada in legalising the possession of 30 grams of cannabis, which they passed last year. Tax revenues are to be reinvested in drug education and addiction treatment programs.
Despite the historical legislation, it is unlikely that the legalisation of cannabis will apply to non-residents, so those living outside Luxembourg will have to miss out.
