2024-03-27 12:12:04
What does cannabis legalization mean for road traffic? Transport Minister Volker Wissing has now made a recommendation.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) has spoken out against a 0.0 limit for THC in road traffic in the event of cannabis legalization. “That would be a consumption ban via traffic law. I don’t want that,” said Wissing to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (Wednesday edition). “But I can’t decide that because I’m not a doctor,” he added. The Transport Ministry’s expert commission will set a THC limit “in the spring”. It is “unlikely” that this will be 0.0.
The Bundestag approved the controversial law on partial cannabis legalization for adults in February. The vote in the Federal Council is coming up this Friday. Here you can read more about it. Union-led federal states have already announced that they will vote against the law planned by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and thus refer it to the mediation committee.
However, since the law does not require formal approval in the state chamber, the Bundestag could overrule a mediation result at a later date with a simple majority.
“We don’t have this phenomenon with alcohol”
In connection with the planned legalization, a possible increase in the THC limit for road traffic was also discussed. Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs is currently generally prohibited. Courts recently set a threshold of one nanogram of THC per milliliter of blood.
However, cannabis has long detection times. Drivers could still be prosecuted if consumption no longer actually has any influence on driving behavior. “The effect may have disappeared again while the THC content in the body is still present at an increased level,” said Wissing to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. “We don’t have this phenomenon with alcohol.”
For him, “road safety is the focus.” The FDP politician emphasized that only those who “are able to completely control it and are not under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants” should drive a car.