16.02.2024 – 10:13
Federal Medical Association
Berlin (ots)
“The planned legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes should not only be rejected from a medical perspective, there are also reservations and good arguments within the traffic light coalition against its release in the planned form. This is about an important social decision that requires party discipline “The personal responsibility of the MPs must be resigned. That is why it is right for Parliament to decide on this law in a roll-call vote.” This is what the President of the German Medical Association, Dr. Klaus Reinhardt before the upcoming final reading of the so-called cannabis law in the German Bundestag.
Already in December, the German Medical Association, together with a broad alliance of professional associations from the healthcare, education, justice and security sectors, personally wrote to all MPs and expressly asked them not to approve this law. “It’s not just the specialist politicians who are in demand here, but every single member of the Bundestag,” emphasized Reinhardt.
The aims of the law are in blatant contradiction to international knowledge. The release trivializes a drug that is proven to be addictive and can lead to serious developmental damage – especially in adolescents and young adults. Reinhardt pointed out that the brain’s development processes are not yet complete until the age of 25 and the consumption of cannabis can have a negative impact on these processes. “This damage is permanent and remains effective for life. This significantly increases the risk of lasting cognitive function deficits as well as the occurrence of psychoses, depression or anxiety disorders,” said the BÄK President.
It’s not just in Germany that experts reject approval. The Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) also emphasized the serious health consequences of cannabis legalization in a recent analysis. The available scientific evidence shows that legalization would further worsen the serious health damage caused by this drug. The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) also warns of the consequences of legalizing non-medical cannabis. He points to an increase in cannabis-related health problems in countries where cannabis use has been approved. The scientific evidence clearly speaks against release.
The majority of parents in Germany are also critical of the legalization plans, as a representative Forsa survey recently showed. Almost two thirds of the parents surveyed fear that the inhibitions of minors will decrease if smoking weed becomes legal for adults. The survey also shows that the majority of parents have concerns about possible brain damage, psychological problems, addiction and poor school performance if their children use cannabis.
Instead of legalization, the German Medical Association is calling for an expansion of cannabis-related education and prevention. “If you want to protect young people from the negative consequences of cannabis consumption, you should focus on developing and financing evidence-based preventive and interventional measures,” says Reinhardt. Politicians have a duty to protect citizens from damage to their health. However, the planned cannabis legalization will achieve the opposite.
Joint letter from the medical profession, pharmacists, science, teachers and police to the members of the German Bundestag
Press contact:
Federal Medical Association
Politics and Communications Department
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10623 Berlin
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Original content from: German Medical Association, transmitted by news aktuell