Chancellor Scholz Clarifies Cannabis Legislation Goals to Chinese Students
During a recent engagement at Tongji University in Shanghai, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the concerns of Chinese students regarding Germany’s stance on cannabis. In a candid exchange, Scholz responded to a student’s inquiry about the necessity of consuming cannabis if one were to study in Germany, given the country’s recent legalization of the substance.
Chancellor Scholz emphasized that the legalization was not an endorsement of cannabis use but rather a strategic move to reduce consumption and enhance public education on the matter. “We don’t want more people to consume cannabis, we want fewer people to consume cannabis,” he stated, reassuring the student that there is no obligation to partake in cannabis use.
With personal conviction, Scholz shared his own experience, “
The chancellor’s visit to China, which includes meetings with Beijing leaders, comes after Germany’s legislative shift in February. The new law permits individuals and associations to grow and possess limited quantities of cannabis, aiming to regulate and control the market effectively. Scholz highlighted the intention to bring cannabis “out of the grey area” and into a structured legal framework.
According to health ministry data, around 4 million people consumed cannabis in Germany in 2022. The German government hopes that by legalizing and regulating cannabis, they can better manage its use and reduce the overall number of consumers through informed decision-making and public education initiatives.
