Oktoberfest
Germany May Follow Worldwide Marijuana Reform Efforts
While much of our focus on marijuana.net centers around the domestic United States patient, we are always trying to keep our readers up to date on international developments regarding marijuana reform. The past two weeks have treated us to great news coming out of Uruguay and Colombia with the former legalizing and the latter decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.
We at marijuana.net were excited to learn that Germans are also voicing their pleas for decriminalization and legalization efforts. German government officials have been conducting online polls in an effort to engage the people in the political process directly. According to Reuters, 152,000 German residents voted online to make cannabis legal. Also up for vote was a bestiality law, which received 93,000 votes, another vote we agree with. Apparently in 1969 sexual abuse of animals was decriminalized, decades before serious marijuana reform (if in fact it even happens soon).
Germany is known for their innovation and has successfully navigated through the rough economic currents challenging most of the world. In fact, much of the rest of Europe and those who utilize the Euro as their main currency have been depending on Germany to provide funds for a bailout in order to stabilize the effects of the European Debt Crisis. As they are typically forward thinkers in terms of industry, Germany may want to think of unconventional ideas in order to stay ahead of the economic curve. Additionally, their online polling and voting system may prove to be a great tool for future governing, letting the people actually have a say.
As stated above, there have been some great develops internationally for marijuana reform. It appears change is now occurring rapidly. Marijuana.net recently wrote about a U.N. study that showed marijuana has now become the most used “drug” in the world. Regulated cannabis could be used to solve financial issues (a small town in Spain tried to lease their land to growers as a way to climb out of debt) and bring much needed medical relief worldwide. Legalization could also make Oktoberfest even more fun.