On April 1, 2024, Germany became the most populated country on earth to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. The butterfly effect of Germany’s policy change has since spread to other parts of the European continent, with Slovenia and Czechia serving as the best examples.
Earlier this year, during the parliamentary elections in Europe, voters in Slovenia decided on two separate cannabis reform measures. The first asked, “Should the Republic of Slovenia allow the cultivation and processing of cannabis for medical purposes on its territory?” Approximately 66.71% of Slovenian voters answered “yes” to that referendum question.
The second question posed to Slovenian voters in June 2024 as part of the referendum votes asked, “Should the Republic of Slovenia allow the cultivation and possession of cannabis for limited personal use on its territory?” Approximately 51.57% of Slovenian voters approved the adult-use question, according to the final results.
The successful votes in Slovenia later culminated in the announcement at the recent International Cannabis Business Conference in Bled, Slovenia, that a cannabis reform measure will be introduced in the country by the end of this year. The announcement of the eventual measure came during Dr. Metka Paragi’s keynote speech. Paragi is a leading international microbiologist who currently serves as the Secretary for Health in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia.
