Marijuana legalisation in most European countries already took effect in the past years, however, access stays unreliable throughout the continent. Some countries authorised the possession of little amounts of cannabis. The shift in marijuana laws in Europe makes criminals get away with the penalties.

Legislation of marijuana in Europe can be inconsistent at times. Some countries authorised only cannabis plant derivatives, but not flowers or its other natural forms. Even if the European Union (EU) legalised CBD and hemp products, the user must check the rules before travelling to other parts of the continent.

Marijuana Legalisation in Luxembourg

On Friday, (July 21) Luxembourg passed a new statute authorising the possession and personal cultivation of marijuana for adults. It’s the second country in the EU to abolish cannabis restriction after Malta’s vote to decriminalise marijuana in 2021.

In the same year, the ministers of justice and homeland security initially suggested adults have up to three grams of cannabis. Additionally, they advocated that people can grow up to four plants in their private residences.

With respect to the law coming into play, the Ministry of Health created a website to convey the country’s new cannabis law and the reason for the change.

“Authorization of home cultivation and the reduction of penalties for small quantities of cannabis in public places represent the first stage in the implementation of the pilot project for legal access to cannabis for non-medical purposes,” the site says.

Also, according to the site, cannabis cultivation at home enables the government to regulate its consumption and reduction of related risks and harm. The decision is among the proactive and constructive public health policies, arising from a political will. This will help establish a balance between abatement in risk, prevention, and eliminating criminality.

Likewise, the site provides basic information about marijuana and presents an overview of home growth. It specifies that seeds for self-cultivation are no longer identified as narcotics and are available online or in shops.

Passage of Medical Marijuana Law in Albania

Albania was a junction for marijuana trafficking until it legislated medicinal cannabis regardless of hard opposition. Drug traffickers used to abuse the country’s shortfall of strong governance, entitling marijuana businesses to operate illegally.

On July 21, the Albanian Parliament authorised the use of medical marijuana. The council voted 69-23, consenting to a minimal and regulated growth of cannabis plants. However, the regulation of medical cannabis remains uncertain. The government assumes that permitting limited cannabis production can boost tax revenue.

The resolution creates the National Agency for the Control of Cannabis. Being the primary regulatory body, it will deal with the administration of the processing and production of marijuana products for medical use.

Marijuana production in Albania magnified until Prime Minister Edi Rama from the left-wing Socialist Party, took office in 2013. He aimed to destroy cannabis plants and over the next two years eradicated cannabis plants worth $8.5 billion. During that time, it was two-thirds of the country’s yearly domestic product.

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