EUROPEAN LEGALIZATION WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THAN REFORMED POLICIES IN NORTH AMERICA
Europe is the most exciting place for cannabis policy reform right now, with several countries actively pursuing adult-use legalization efforts. Many countries in Europe already have thriving medical cannabis programs, and adult-use reform is the logical next frontier for the continent’s policy modernization endeavors.
Malta was the first European nation to pass a national adult-use legalization measure involving cannabis that is not limited to varieties that are low in THC. Several countries have legalized low-THC cannabis, or ‘cannabis light’ as it is often referred to in Europe. However, low-THC policies are far less comprehensive than what is now in place in Malta, where adults can cultivate cannabis, possess it, and consume it regardless of how much THC the cannabis contains. That is in addition to being able to join a noncommercial cannabis club from which to source higher-THC products legally.
Luxembourg has also passed and implemented a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure, although Luxembourg’s legalization model is far more restrictive compared to Malta’s. Noncommercial cannabis clubs are still prohibited in Luxembourg, and the possession limit is considerably lower in Luxembourg (3 grams) versus in Malta (7 grams away from home and 50 grams at home).
