Legislation regarding the trafficking, cultivation, and possession of cannabis varies in severity from country to country. In the Netherlands, sale for recreational use is legal in authorized establishments called coffee shops, being the only country in the European Union that allows it. In Spain, cultivation of cannabis for personal use or in exempt modalities from punishment is allowed. However, its therapeutic use is still not regulated and is pending government processing, leading to a shortage of cannabis-based medicines due to lack of regulation, a process that can be prolonged for years due to bureaucratic issues.
In the Spanish legislative sphere, the debate on cannabis has been driven by proposals to amend the law, such as the one presented by Izquierda Unida in 2006 to reform the Corcuera Law. Additionally, cannabis associations have emerged that offer legal access to cannabis as an alternative to the free market legalization model, which is considered to potentially encourage uncontrolled trade following unregulated consumption patterns. These associations have restrictive entry criteria, limited to adults and consumers recommended by members.
The conservative government of Mariano Rajoy introduced a bill in 2013 that toughened penalties for cannabis possessors and consumers in public spaces, eliminating the option of substituting fines for detoxification programs and increasing fines for the cultivation of drugs not constituting a crime. This measure was criticized by drug dependency experts and representatives of cannabis associations, who considered it regressive and harmful to users.
In 2022, the Congress of Deputies debated the regulation of medicinal cannabis, with the Health and Consumption Committee approving by an absolute majority a report urging the Government to approve it within six months, although the process was hindered and not fully materialized due to the general elections of 2023.
In Portugal, drug consumption, including marijuana, is still prohibited, but since 2001, drug possession is not considered a crime. According to a Ministry of Health official, the focus is on addressing addiction as a disease, not criminalizing affected individuals. Those detained with minimal amounts are referred to monitoring committees, led by the Ministry of Health, to receive detoxification treatment if necessary, without this being recorded in police or judicial records. This policy has resulted in a decrease in consumption.
In Germany, efforts to legalize cannabis have been initiated since 2022. After the leadership change with Olaf Scholz, proposals were made to increase the minimum wage, reduce the voting age, and legalize the sale of cannabis for recreational use. Hearings with medical and legal experts have been held to inform about possible legalization. Despite meetings between ministers from various countries to discuss the regulation of the cannabis market, an official agreement has not yet been reached.
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Ohioans have some pretty sweet cannabis legalization—if they can keep it.
This March, state herb lovers must activate to defend their hard-fought cannabis freedoms from Republican lawmakers.
Ohioans approved of legalization in November 2023 with a 57% yes vote on Issue 2. However, Republican lawmakers can completely repeal Issue 2, and they’ve started the repeal process this winter.
Email your lawmaker and tell them to “Vote no on Senate Bill 56.” Call, text, and testify if you can.
What’s going on with Ohio legalization repeal in 2025?
Republicans re-criminalizing weed in Senate Bill 56
So far, the state has sold $347 million in legal, taxed grass. Adults age 21 and older can possess and use 2.5 ounces and grow up to 6 plants per person.
Ohio Republicans have one big bill to unwind legalization—Senate Bill 56.
The bill would:
Sicken Ohioans by requiring new, untested chemicals diluting their vapes
Dictate what Ohioans can do in their own backyard
Make it a crime for a husband to give a joint to his wife
Make it a crime to vape on a boat—even as a passenger
SB 56 also contains a gift to the alcohol industry— SB 56 caps dispensaries at just 350. Meanwhile, there are 24,000 active liquor permits in Ohio.
Contact your lawmaker and protect your freedoms. Ohio has over 1 million regular cannabis consumers.
When should I speak up on Ohio’s repeal of legalization?
Ohio Republicans want force dilution of legal vapes with unsafe chemicals. Diluting vape oil sickened more than 2,600 and killed over 50 in 2020. Above, dangerous colorless, odorless diluent vitamin E oil. (Courtesy of CDC)
The time is now.
Stop legalization repeal bill SB 56
Senate Republicans already voted passed SB 56 in late February. It requires new chemicals in your cannabis extracts to dilute them below a 70% THC cap. It’s a pro-cartel bill that hands over the hash market to illegal dealers who will have untaxed, untested, more potent products.
SB 56 went live for debate in the Ohio House on March 3, and it should head to the House Finance Committee. Email them.
Who is trying to trample on cannabis consumers’ rights in Ohio?
The chief Republican pushing pot re-criminalization is Sen. Stephen A. Huffman—who is up for reelection in November 2026. All nine Senate Democrats voted ‘no’ on Huffman’s SB 56.
Legalization is popular—57% of Buckeye voters passed it. Nearly $347 million in legal weed has been sold since August.
Why are lawmakers subverting the people’s will?
Speak up or 7 plants becomes a crime again in Ohio—not even two years after 57% of voters legalized it. (Leafly)
Lawmakers think they know better than the voters who elected them, legalized it with 57% of the vote.
Sen. Huffman has said, “I’m not sure why people voted for [legalization].”
Ohio Republicans opposed legalization in 2023, and pitch partial repeal for “consumer and child safety.”
However, voters approved Issue 2 to increase consumer and child safety. Legal markets tax, test, and regulate cannabis. They check IDs, and use child-safe packaging. Repeal gives a win to street dealers that literally poisoned children.
Why do Ohio’s Republican lawmakers think they know better than their voters?
It’s the same paternalism that drove the drug war in the first place. The party of ‘small government,’ ‘personal responsibility,’ and ‘low regulation’ has taken aim at your backyard, your vape pen, and sharing a joint to your wife.
Over 40 opponents spoke at SB 56’s Senate hearing. Only six spoke in favor of repealing legalization. Republicans advanced repeal anyway.
Can Ohio voters win this year?
Sure.
Voters over in Montana already defeated several bad bills in their state during this legislative cycle. Ditto for South Dakota.
Lawmakers respond to emails, phone calls, text messages, and testimony from constituents. Inboxes flooded with ‘Vote No on SB 56’’ will make them twice.
You can find your Ohio lawmaker on this page.
Keep the message simple: ‘No new taxes and regulations on weed’ and mention you are a constituent. The majority is with you.
Ohio Republicans will keep trying each year to lock people back up for weed. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Up next for Ohio repeal, another Republican reward to street dealers —doubling taxes on legal weed
Separately, Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine plans to abandon the party’s low-tax ethos to double taxes on herb. His proposed state budget raises pot taxes from 10% to 20%.
Ohio House hears the budget this winter as well.
Contact your lawmaker and say ‘no new weed taxes.’ They are a giveaway to the illegal market, which doesn’t pay any taxes.
Thanks to Hemp Gazette for spotting this – I have to admit I missed it and unsurprisingly nobody made me aware of it The Linked in Post from the organisers Some Comments
