The current hour in the Bundestag

by 2024Deutsch (de)Presse

The current hour in the Bundestag

On 15 November 2024, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag convened a topical debate on the effects of the Konsum-Cannabis-Gesetz, KCanG, on internal security. The list of speakers was long, and too many of those who took to the microphone used their time exclusively for election campaign posturing.

The CDU/CSU once again made the refuted claims that the KCanG would lead to more crime, more violent offenses and more work for the judiciary. It seems logical to them, that the black market will explode with the permitted possession quantities and that organized crime will experience an upswing, new markets will emerge that will be brutally fought over, as can currently be seen in NRW.

In addition, the judiciary is badly overburdened by the old cases that have to be processed in order to review the judgements in the light of the KCanG. Justice only if it does not do any work, according to the statement by the Senator for Justice in Berlin, Ms Badenberg, CDU, who complained about the extra work in her department and also made the false claim that the KCanG would lead to more crime. As a senator in the capital of stoners, the lady should be more familiar with reality. It remains unclear how she comes up with an additional burden on the judiciary when, according to the Federal Police, 180 000 fewer proceedings are to be expected each year, all related to consumers.

During the debate, most of the people sitting on the Union bench were from the CSU, a far right party that governs Bavaria for 67 years without interruption, and part of the party-union with CDU, who went to great lengths to mock the federal government and ridicule its factual arguments. The members of the CDU had gone to get coffee after the opening of the meeting, as had most of the other members. A clear sign.

The representatives of the neo-Nazi party pretended to be tolerant of cannabis, only to present irrelevant arguments against the federal government in their speeches and present themselves as dashing campaigners. They were not the only ones. Even a representative of the party of the cultivated personality cult, BSW, felt called upon to step up to the microphone, although the subsequent speaker made it clear that the lady was not otherwise to be seen in the Bundestag. Cannabis as an election campaign aid for opponents who are otherwise not interested in it. An old game. This show was more for them than for cannabis.

So they gave the usual performance of refuting and outright lying arguments, painted doomsday scenarios and, of course, children must be protected! We waited in vain for valid evidence of the concrete threat to internal security, the topic of the requested question time, but instead there were plenty of outrageous accusations against the coalition. Election campaigning on the backs of those affected. The CDU/CSU’s hatred of cannabis seems pathological, they actively refuse to recognise and debate the issue on a factual level and instead go full culture war. You have to ask yourself why the CDU/CSU wants to protect the already firmly established illegal market at all costs when it pretends that this did not exist before the KCanG in order to justify the ban, which has failed at all levels. An unworthy spectacle of a retreat battle pretending to be an offense.

Those involved in the KCanG, on the other hand, presented their valid arguments in a consistently objective and calm manner, substantiating them and showing that they had taken the right step overall. Clear signals came from the SPD that the law would not be sacrificed in a future coalition and that, on the contrary, it would continue to move in the right direction with Pillar 2 and dispensaries. In his energetic closing speech, Dirk Heidenblut from the SPD clarified all the claims and also gave a clear indication that the KCanG should be retained until it has been properly evaluated, as is usual with new laws.

For cannabis users in Germany, this parliamentary current hour was associated with the realization that the withdrawal of the KCanG will not be as easy for the Union as they pretend.

But also that we need to keep up the pressure on politicians for sure!

OW

Responsibility ping-pong in the German capital

by 2024Cannabis Social ClubDeutsch (de)LEGAL SITUATION ON CANNABIS IN EUROPE

Responsibility ping-pong in the German capital

Since 1 July 2024, cultivation associations in Germany have been able to apply for permission to cultivate cannabis to supply their members in accordance with the Consumer Cannabis Act. Over 300 applications have now been submitted to the relevant authorities across Germany, and around 25 of these have been granted a licence. The state of Lower Saxony is the front-runner when it comes to granting licences.

Number one in the ranking of federal states that delay or openly refuse to grant licences is the capital of the stoners: Berlin.

The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder of the CSU has publicly announced that he will hunt down cannabis users wherever possible, that they are not welcome in his state and is massively delaying the granting of licences. A special authority has been set up, at a cost of 36 million euros, and they are pretending to comply with a federal law, although no licence has yet been issued. A lawsuit against the federal state is in preparation, initiated by an alliance of the SPD, Die Linke and DHV.

In Berlin, the health senator Dr Czyborra claims in a statement from July* that she has been negotiating with the districts since 2023 about the granting of permits for cultivation communities and says that the districts have refused. The districts, in turn, say that the Senate did not want to provide them with any resources for the task, which makes the refusal understandable in view of the tight budgets and staff shortages.

Added to this are the local addiction support centres, which, together with the youth care organisations, allow themselves to be driven by conservative doctors and put the protection of minors first. They are not responsible for ‘the regulation of addictive substances’. Discussions usually follow the same pattern: as soon as it comes to making cultivation associations possible in concrete terms, the medical profession is cited as a reason to hide behind the protection of minors (we can already see how harmful cannabis is for young people), and all attempts at constructive cooperation are blocked.

‘We are waiting for the Senate and are not responsible,’ is the unanimous opinion of the mayors from 12 districts. Everyone is afraid of doing something wrong, the funding remains unclear and the necessary resources are not available.

There has been talk in the media of transferring the authorisation procedure to the State Office for Health and Social Affairs, starting with the Senate. In an early statement, the LaGeSo announced that it was not willing to take on this task and was not responsible for it as it does not fall within its area of competence. The acceptance of applications was still rejected in August, and we have received emails to this effect. 

So it was a positive surprise when LaGeSo invited Olli Waack-Jürgensen, representing the umbrella organisation German Cannabis Social Clubs, together with Georg Wurth from the German Hemp Association to a meeting at short notice. Olli was welcomed by the prevention officer of the CSC High Ground Berlin e. V., Georg came with his press officer. Our interlocutors were the head of LaGeSo, Dr Merx, the head of the department in which the authority responsible for permission procedures is to be set up, Dr Pelz, as well as the head of the LaGeSo press department and the future head of the permission authority department.

The discussion lasted over 90 minutes and was factual, pragmatic and open. The LaGeSo would like to ‘implement a federal law’ and has received questions and catalogues from other federal states in preparation. ‘We want harmonious applications’ was said, which presumably means not as disproportionate as in Hamburg or Bavaria, for example, but orientated towards the requirements of Section 11 KCanG. They want to work with us, which we do not reject, on the contrary. We welcome this step and will seize the opportunity.

In order to be able to process the authorisation procedure with legal certainty, the authority needs a statutory order from the Senate. The Senate had claimed that this would require an amendment to the law. In Berlin, this change means that it can take a long time. Legislative procedures take an average of 40 months here, and although an amendment to the law takes less time, it is significantly longer than a statutory order. Frustrated, clubs have already turned away and are trying their luck in the federal state of Brandenburg. Now we have learnt that a statutory instrument is sufficient, and that is good news, because the statutory instrument is significantly quicker than the amendment to the law and is more favourable to the clubs.

LaGeSo expects to be able to start work on 1 January 2025, and the job advertisements for the four positions in the future licensing authority are already public. The districts will be responsible for monitoring the AVs.

The clubs can be job engines for those without opportunities on the regular labour market; the sooner they can start working, the sooner the social security funds will be relieved. Most AVs are already in the starting blocks and want to get started. 

The blockade strengthens the illegal market, hinders evaluation and stigmatises adult cannabis users, which should end with the KCanG.

It is now up to the Senate to decide when the authorisation procedure can finally start in Berlin. The boards of the AVs are not prepared to wait just one day longer than necessary and are demanding precise information on when the authority can begin its work. The legal decree must be issued immediately; any further delay is an affront to dozens of clubs, their members and boards.

The monkey dance around cannabis, it really must be said, must end. The KCanG, which was passed in the Bundestag by over 60%, must be implemented across the board without delay. 

It’s not up to us, we are ready.

 

OWaack

 

*Press release Senate:

https://www.berlin.de/sen/wgp/presse/2024/pressemitteilung.1476859.php

ENCOD GA Berlin 2024

European drug activists of Encod meet in Berlin for General Assembly

by 2024Nederlands (nl)THE NETHERLANDS

Text by Dutch Foundation VOC

During the weekend of the well-attended Mary Jane cannabis fair in Berlin, Encod held a general assembly in the basement of the Hanf Museum (Hemp Museum) in the German capital. The VOC, the Dutch Union for the Abolition of cannabis prohibition, is a member of Encod, and its chairman Derrick Bergman and secretary Mauro Picavet attended the general assembly.

The European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies has existed since 1994. And without Encod, the VOC would probably never have existed. Joep Oomen, Encod’s co-founder and driving force for many years, is one of the founders of the VOC. He brought a great deal of knowledge, contacts, and experience and played a key role in the VOC until his sudden death in 2016. Joep’s death was a major blow to both organizations; he is still missed.

Encod was hit by an even more difficult-to-grasp tragedy at the beginning of this year. After Joep Oomen died, the secretariat moved from his hometown of Antwerp, Belgium to Vienna. The Austrian Gaby and her German husband Erec ran the secretariat. Erec had been struggling with mental health problems and called the police on January 5, 2024, because he was not doing well. The police came to his house, attacked Erec with pepper spray, and shot him four times. “He wanted help and was murdered,”; Gaby wrote on Facebook a few days later.

Gaby Kozar Encod alv Berlijn 15-6-2024 Foto Derrick Bergman 8842
Photo: Derrick Bergman / Gonzo Media

For many Encod members, the general assembly in Berlin was the first time they had seen Gaby since the violent death of her husband. She showed herself to be strong and combative and she has no intention of stopping her work for Encod and improving drug policy. The General Assembly was a special one, with members from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Malta, Spain, Italy, France, and the Netherlands attending. The decriminalization of cannabis in Germany clearly gives energy and inspiration to all European countries.

The fact that the German government has opted for the cannabis social club model, which Encod has been promoting for decades, is a boost. But the German version differs from the Encod version in crucial points. In particular, the ban on consuming cannabis in the club goes against the basic concept of the cannabis social club. Enjoying cannabis together in a safe and social environment is essential. The rules that German clubs must adhere to are unnecessarily strict and restrictive. In the rest of Europe, the climate for cannabis consumers is significantly worse than in Germany.

Farid Gheoueche Encod alv Berlijn 15-6-2024 Foto Derrick Bergman 8841
Photo: Derrick Bergman / Gonzo Media

A Czech Encod member was quite pessimistic about the legalization law that has been in the making in the Czech Republic for years. He expects a Luxembourg scenario: no commercial cultivation or shops, but only home cultivation and maybe non-commercial cannabis clubs.

Encod chairman and Parisian Farid Ghehiouèche was even more pessimistic about French drug policy. For the time being, it is all about repression in France. He told the attendees that a friend had received a one-year prison sentence a few days earlier for just eight cannabis plants. The man lives with his elderly mother and a disabled brother, whom he now has to leave to their fate.

VOC secretary Mauro Picavet gave an update on the Dutch cannabis experiment, the new Dutch government, and the VOC’s activities and campaigns, such as veiligthuiskweken.nl, De Gouden Gieter, and cannabisenverkeer.nl.

Mauro Picavet Encod ALV Hanfmuseum Belijn 14-6-2024 Foto Derrick Bergman
Photo: Derrick Bergman / Gonzo Media

Malta, the first EU country to legalize cannabis, now has seven cannabis social clubs, three of which supply their members. Consumption in the club is prohibited; perhaps the German government copied this nonsensical rule from Malta. Andrew Bonello of ReLeaf Malta said that a lot of people also grow at home. His organization advocates for increasing the amount of cannabis you can have on the street from seven to thirty grams as well as the amount you can have at home. Now that is a maximum of fifty grams, which means that every home grower runs the risk of being prosecuted. The same maximum applies in Germany, and therefore the same risk for home growers. ReLeaf Malta also wants to abolish the ban on sharing cannabis with friends.

Encod ALV Berlijn 14-6-2024 Olli Waack Farid Ghehiouèche en Andrew Bonello 8839 Foto Derrick Bergman
Photo: Derrick Bergman / Gonzo Media

It was good to see that Encod is still vibrant after thirty years. In the power struggle between government on the one hand and commerce on the other, an independent organization of consumers and activists with knowledge and experience is sorely needed. If you want to know more about Encod or become a member, check out this page.

[this article was first published in Dutch, as part of the “VOC Logboek” in HighLife Magazine 4, 2024]

Ganj_ape_Erec

The Bad, the Sad and the Ugly (Please keep updated)

by 2024

Update on April 20th, 2024

About Erec :

Two weeks ago, Erec’s widow posted on her Facebook page this message: “3 months after the killing of my beloved husband and soulmate, Erec Hesse, I am still in a state of, I do not even know how to call it. Out of my body, out of my mind, in constant pain, physically and mentally, suffering, losing hope and joy of life. By now we would have been in Costa Rica, seeing friends there and scouting for a possible new home.
Our dream was Cuba, but unfortunately the medical supplies there are not reliable any more, but Cuba was our paradise. 

Will be with you soon my love. I will choose our tree in a week, it will be a maple tree, which stands for freedom”.

Please note, share and enjoy the date to join the very (he)artful celebration organize on May 2nd:

ATELIERTHEATER Wien, Burggasse 71, 1070 Wien

Home

Thursday, May 2nd 2024, 18 h

Meeting in the foyer of the theatre, drinks from the bar

Erec’s collected works in the cinema-theatre: videos, short films, texts, photos and
World premiere of the film “Arukaze” by French filmmaker Gaël Sall, filmed in 2022.

Arukaze has been enjoying life in his little paradise for a very long time.
He is caretaker of a garden surrounding the gate to the realm of fairies. When Yansa Lu became the hero, Arukaze was happy to retire from his duties in people’s world. Indulging his dionysian personality, the Tiger forgot about the dangerous threats in Midgard, relying on Yansa Lu to fulfill the role of Sentinel and on Trinity to tell him should his services be required again.

Erec O. Kozàr 2.1.1969 – 5.1.2024

Never forgotten, always missed and loved.

Kino

https://www.klosterwald.at/

Startseite

About Dana : 

On a facebook, he posted on April 19th,  this very interesting message while sharing this “Certificate of recognition” signed by Eric Adams, New York City mayor and calling for financial support to support his lawyer costs:

“Well, you definitely help me cut my sentence (currently a year in prison and 9 years parole) down to a few more months, or even time served, by chipping in a little money… It was only pot. (But I’m going to take this opportunity to let Idaho know all about ibogaine.)

On April 4th, Paul Stanford who set up the Gofundme campaign to relase him published this message :

“Beal on bail. Dana is out on bail and homeless in NYC. He is currently couch surfing with various friends. Don Wirtshafter and Adam Eidinger signed to guarantee the $250,000 bail bond to set Dana free and that Dana would show up for court in Idaho, but the bail bond company, Eve and the Outlaw in Twin Falls, Idaho, is still owed cash; they were kind enough to put up the bond and give him time to come up with their discounted fee. And Dana is broke and needs food money, and airfare to get back to Idaho. Dana is scheduled to speak at the Boise Hempfest in Idaho on Saturday, May 11th, then he has court in tiny Gooding County, Idaho a few days later. He’s facing a 5 year mandatory minimum sentence in Idaho prison. Please donate to help Dana”

Longtime cannabis pioneer, Dana Beal, was busted in Gooding County, Idaho, near Twin Falls, on January 15, 2024. Dana is charged with cannabis trafficking and not having an Idaho cannabis tax stamp. He was held until March 9 and is out on $250,000 bail bond thanks to 2 people, an activist in Ohio and another in the District of Columbia, who signed to guarantee the bond. Dana has asked us to create this GoFundMe to help with his court expenses. He plans a vigorous court defense while working to legalize cannabis in Idaho, and to continue his groundbreaking work with ibogaine. Dana also pledges to not get busted again or travel with cannabis. We are working with a bail bond company in Twin Falls, Eve and the Outlaw Bail Bonds <https://www.eveandtheoutlawbailbonds.com>. Dana Beal has worked with the Yippies! and for cannabis legalization since the 1960s. Dana started the Global Cannabis March movement in New York City in the 1970s that has spread to over 400 cities around the world. Last year, the mayor of NYC, Eric Adams, awarded Dana and the Yippies the award in the attached photo! He has pioneered ibogaine treatment for drug addiction and post traumatic stress. In December, Dana took ibogaine to Ukraine’s troops on the front lines, to aid those under fire. <https://theintercept.com/…/ukraine-military…/>. Please make a donation to help Dana Beal, one of the most active pioneers still working for freedom for over 50 years. Thank you!

 

 

 

Update on January 20th, 2024

2024 is 420/2

How can we say “Happy New Year”, when so much violence against our peers is occurring, so many crimes are committed by Police forces that are supposed to protect society and people, when so hard political stances are rising against our tiny democratic organizations, and unbearable attempts to shut down our voices. When it comes to keeping people informed, it is very hard to find the good one, the first hand, and the best source of information.

Please find below pieces of information and updates about :

In summary

Two weeks ago, ENCOD General Secretary, our friend, fellow, and comrade, Erec O. Kozar passed away. We are still shocked and hardly hurt by the violent circumstances of the dramatic killing by Police gunshots. After some Bullshit Journalism spread the very ugly news (See below our reaction and link to a sample letter proposal), all ENCOD members, supporters, and Erec’s friends from all around the world are aiming to pay for a genuine ceremony to celebrate his memory. For sure, we’re all committed to ensuring “Justice for Erec”. Our sincere condolences go to his bereaved family, especially his wife Gaby. Stay tuned for an update…

Two days ago, sadly Dana Beal was arrested in Idaho. We never thought we’d have to say #FreeDanaBeal again in our lives, but it’s a good reminder that until Cannabis is completely legal in all US states and federally (and worldwide), there will still be activists fighting for legalization. Dana Beal is an American political activist, best known for his efforts to legalize marijuana and to promote the benefits of Ibogaine as an addiction treatment. He is a founder along with Abbie Hoffman of the Yippies, the Youth International Party, and a close ENCOD partner. May the #LastPrisonerProject help to release him and all other inmates, as well as to repair the harms of this discriminatory and counterproductive crusade. His daughter, Aivia Rose Monitto has launched a “Pot commun”: Stay tuned for an update…

In Spain, Barcelona’s new mayor is badly pledging to close all #CannabisSocialClubs. As ENCOD for the last 20 years, ICEERS supports the Clubs! Help us save Cannabis Social Clubs by signing the petition: https://www.iceers.org/support-csc-barcelona/; Stay tuned for an update…

One good news: Support Grassroots Cannabis & Hemp Advocacy at the UN Drug Policy Summit! 🇺🇳🌱 A new cycle begins in March 2024 at the UN headquarters in Vienna.  We need your support!; Stay tuned for an update…

Remember Ten years ago: https://youtu.be/NWkcp-2_bQ4?si=6YoGn44Yn5yc7CK1

Tribute to Erec – “Justice for Erec”.

Action against bullshit journalism – Please click here to access a sample letter that you can adapt or copy-paste and email to

As ENCOD Board, we’re writing to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding your coverage of the tragic incident involving ENCOD’s general secretary, M. Erec. O. K., who was killed by a police gunshot last Friday, January 5th.

We are shocked by your reporting marked by a clear bias merging things that have no clue, and neglecting the possibility that the incident may involve elements of foul play or an extrajudicial act.

It is crucial for media outlets to uphold the principles of journalistic integrity, objectivity, and fairness in their reporting. Unfortunately, your coverage appears to have deviated from these standards by providing a one-sided narrative while trying to shame and cover with mud our poor dead friend! 

The drugs are not responsible for police brutality. Would you have treated a similar situation where the victim was a user of legal drugs (alcohol) or other medicines?

ENCOD is a pan-European and abroad non-profit organisation, which is promoting and lobbying for a humane, just, and effective drug policy based on scientific evidence and protecting the rights of the users as well as those who are producers, like small cocaleros farmers in the Andean region. 

Our comrade Erec was part of so many actions that ENCOD organized, like “coffee roasted sniffing” at the gate of the UN buildings in Vienna in 2014,  the “Road to the coca leaf” project in 2015 and so many demonstrations calling for drugs policy reform or claiming respect of basic Human Rights for the people who use drugs… 

Please read the last article Erec posted on ENCOD website (https://encod.org/2023/20710/), you’ll clearly understand his own “testament – statement” for life and peace. Cannabis is a medication that can have very different effects on mental conditions, including positive therapeutic benefits in many cases: The media shouldn’t throw cannabis on the table without any knowledge of what its effects are and what it’s used for. Especially, the media should avoid building false allegations by stigmatizing people who use drugs.

We urge you to reevaluate your reporting on this matter and consider the impact it may have on the surviving half of the affected couple. Media outlets must fulfill their responsibility to inform the public accurately and impartially, especially in cases where sensitive issues such as potential police misconduct are at play.

We kindly request that you take immediate action to rectify the biased nature of your coverage and provide a platform for alternative perspectives, ensuring a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of the incident.

Failure to address this concern promptly may compel us to pursue further action, including but not limited to, filing a formal complaint with relevant regulatory bodies. We trust that you will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and take the necessary steps to uphold the standards of ethical journalism.

Dana’s arrest in Idaho

Steve Bloom from CelebStoner warns the Yppie Movement. Due to a vehicle malfunction that led to the police apprehension. Our comrade Dana Beal (who celebrated recently 77) is behind bars in Gooding County Jail in Southern Idaho, charged with felony marijuana trafficking. Bail was set at $250,000. This might be Beal’s toughest challenge yet. Possession of more than 25 pounds with intent to distribute in Idaho carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in jail and a $50,000 fine.

In a very slight testimony of the long struggle Dana has devoted to cannabis liberation, Aivia Rose, Dana’s daughter launched a crowdfunding appeal to the worldwide cannabis community:

I’m reaching out to you with a plea for urgent assistance for my father. He is a remarkable individual who has dedicated over five decades of his life to his activism and is currently facing a critical moment in his life that I will need the aid of the activist community for— and anyone who can help.
Unfortunately, his unwavering commitment to compassion and justice has led to recent legal troubles. He was arrested in Idaho for transporting medical marijuana to low-income patients. Given Dana’s age, poor health and serious heart condition, any jail facility, let alone extended prison stay, would threaten his life.

CelebStoner has requested a copy of the police report. Stay tuned for an update…

 

https://www.iceers.org/support-csc-barcelona/

Mini Clip ENCOD 

 

2022 Banner 1080_without borders_small

Winterfest Deutschland – es kann so schön sein…

by 2023

 

Happy Holidays – Fröhliches Winterfest Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

Es kann so schön sein.
Bekifft mit den Liebsten unterm Weihnachtsbaum, nach einem
gesunden Schlaf fit in den Dienst.
Stattdessen saufen mit der kratzigen Verwandtschaft, zur nächsten
Schicht verkatert in die Arbeitsuniform.
Unabhängig von der aktuellen Gesetzeslage bevorzugen bereits viele
Menschen in der Welt, auch in Deutschland, die etwas effizientere
Medikamentierung mit der verbotenen Substanz Cannabis.
Gesetzestreuen bleibt nur der Griff zur Flasche oder eine Verschreibung
vom Arzt, um die nicht selten bis zum Anschlag gereizten Nerven mit
Painkillern auf die Feierlichkeiten einzustimmen.
Fein wäre es gewesen, noch vor dem Fest von der Bundesregierung
eine Gesetzesreform zu erhalten, welche zum unbeschwert fröhlichen
Feiern Anlass gibt.

Weihnachtsmarkt Karlsplatz Wien, Jahr ~2010 (?) , mit CIA TV

8 Jahre nach der Regulierung von Cannabis im US-Bundesstaat
Colorado gilt für Cannabis das gleiche wie bei der deutschen Bahn:
Nordamerikaner und Schweizer haben die deutlich besseren Konzepte,
aber abschauen tun sich die Deutschen grundsätzlich nichts. Bei den
Klassenbesten abschreiben ist pfui, oder was.

Der Schlingerkurs mit dem neuen Gesetz fing an mit der unsinnigen
Ausklammerung kommerzieller Cannabis Geschäfte, welche nach US-
Vorbild leicht als Drogerien schnell die Arbeit aufnehmen könnten.

Dann wurde das Cannabis Club Modell zu Anbauclubs geschrumpft,
vom Cannabis Social Club bleibt nur Anbau und Profitfreiheit übrig, mit
Streichung des gemeinschaftlichen Konsums fällt der soziale
Kontrollaspekt weg, die gegenseitige Zuwendung wird eliminiert, alles
was die Idee gut und wirksam macht eingestampft.

Dynamik, Mut und Tatkraft steht der Regierung bei fossilen Projekten
zur Verfügung, bei progressiven Projekten Fehlanzeige.
Das ganze Theater ums Kraut scheint auch nur ein Schattenspiel zu
sein, so wirklich ernst ist es wohl damit niemandem an leitenden
Positionen unserer Gesellschaft.
Für uns ist der Kampf ums Kraut auch Teil des Kampfes für unsere
Demokratie.

GMM Wien 2019

Der “Krieg gegen Drogen” ist in Wahrheit nur eine Kampagne im Krieg
gegen Menschen.
Mit Herz und Verstand können wir das Elend beenden, nur müssen wir
dafür zusammen stehen.
Die Zeiten werden zunehmend härter, gebt den Menschen etwas
zurück.
Wenn es entspannend wirkt, ohne aggressiv zu machen, umso besser.

Wo ist eigentlich das Problem?
„Im Rausch samma z’haus“ singt Wolfgang Ambros.
Was legales Rauschgift ist und was nicht bestimmt wer – und warum
bitte?
Was ist Droge, warum sind die einen erlaubt und die anderen nicht nur
verboten, sondern obendrauf mit sozialem Stigma belegt?
Am Erscheinungsbild und Verhalten schwer berauschter Personen kann
es nicht liegen, siehe Oktoberfest.
Schauen wir im Duden nach, zur Klärung der Definition des Begriffs
„Droge“.
Damit wir sicher die selbe Sprache sprechen, sonst reden wir
aneinander vorbei.

Die Droge Alkohol ist ein körperfremdes, gefährliches Nervengift, mit
schnell erreichter tödlicher Dosierung.
Dieses Rauschgift darf in unbegrenzter Menge überall privat vorrätig
sein und relativ frei verwendet werden.

Hier funktionert der Jugendschutz, oder nicht?
Wenn der Jugendschutz beim Alkohol greift, könnte unsere Jugend vor
Cannabis auf die gleiche Weise geschützt werden, auch wenn
Cannabis nicht tödlich ist.
Cannabis in der Drogerie erhältlich, in elektronisch gesicherten Gläsern,
gleich neben dem Regal mit ebenso gesichertem Schnaps.
Denken wir gleich weiter und packen die harte Droge, das Rauschgift
Alkohol, auch in die Drogerie.
Verkauf nur an berechtigte Personen, im Zweifel Ausweis vorzeigen.
Geht nicht, warum?
Schweden macht es vor, gemeinsam mit Putins Russland zählt es zu
den beinharten Prohibitionisten, welche mit ignoranter Unmenschlichkeit
von einer drogenfreien Welt fabulieren.
In Schweden wird Alkohol nur in staatseigenen Drogerien zur Verfügung
gestellt. Wollen wir auch nicht wirklich, keine Sorge.

Family Cannabaceae – Hops & Hemp

Die nicht profitorientierten Cannabis Social Clubs bieten eine
Ergänzung zu den kommerziellen Geschäften an.
Was ein CSC ist, ist genau definiert.
Es soll und darf gerne andere Modelle geben, aber die nennen sich
dann nicht CSC.
Es gibt keinen Grund für Konflikte, wir wollen alle eine effiziente und der
Gesellschaft dienende Legalisierung/Regulierung von Cannabis.
ENCOD steht gerne zur Verfügung, um bei auftauchenden Streitigkeiten
zu vermitteln.
In der Absicht, eine gemeinsame politische Kraft aufzubauen, um nicht
in Kleinstgruppen zu bleiben und somit unsere Energie zu verpuffen.
Was wir jetzt brauchen ist ein Schulterschluss der gesamten Cannabis
Bewegung.
Lasst uns zusammen stehen!

Die kreative Energie der Straße, die demokratische Leidenschaft der
Grassroots Bewegung, die organisierte Sozialstruktur der Social Clubs,
die Schubkraft kommerzieller Unternehmer –
sollten jetzt ihre gemeinsamen Interessen in den Fokus nehmen und
eine politische Macht werden.
Somit in Zukunft keine Großmutter eine ärztliche Bewilligung braucht,
um ihre Altersleiden mit ihren Gartenkräutern zu lindern.
Somit in Zukunft die therapeutische Wirkung von Cannabis für alle zur
Entstressung und Vorbeugung schwerer Leiden ohne Probleme
erhältlich ist.
Somit in Zukunft die Pflanze Cannabis mit ihren überragenden
Eigenschaften uneingeschränkt genutzt werden kann, von den Wurzeln
über die Stengel bis zu den Blüten.
Somit in Zukunft unsere Polizei keine harmlosen Bürger mehr verfolgen
muss.
Somit dieselbe Polizei nach Dienstschluss zur Entspannung auch ein
gemütliches Rohr durchziehen darf.

Zum Universellen Neujahr, am 22. Dezember 2023, liebe Grüße von
ENCOD an unsere deutschen Mitmenschen.
ENCOD steht seit 1993 auf internationalem Parkett in der Debatte um
den Drogenkrieg, in unzähligen Konferenzen formte sich unsere
Position.
An der UNO gilt ENCOD als “unbeherrschbare Nichtregierungs-
Organisation”, berichtet unser amtierender Präsident, UN und WHO
Diplomat, Vorsitzender Cannabis Sans Frontiers Frankreich, Farid
Ghehioueche.
ENCOD ist nicht käuflich, sieht aber Handel grundsätzlich als wichtiges
Werkzeug des Friedens absolut positiv.
An dieser Stelle herzlichen Dank an unsere treuen Geschäftsponsoren.
Lasst uns handeln.
Wir schreiben den Kalender neu.
Es ist heute das Jahr 3,2 Millionen nach Lucy. Zirka.
Cannabis ist seit Urmutter Lucy mit uns Menschen, es ist Teil unserer
DNA, unseres Körpers, unseres Erbes.
Die 100 Jahre Prohibition sind dagegen nicht mal ein Wimpernschlag.
Einfach zu erledigen.

ENCOD bedankt sich bei all seinen deutschen Unterstützern.
Ihr habt viel erreicht.
Gemeinsam fegen wir den rechts-konservativen Unfug endgültig vom
Tisch.
ENCOD gedenkt der Opfer aller Kriege.
Wir wünschen Euch allen eine gerechte und wirksame Drogenpolitik.

Copyright all images Erec O. Kozàr. Xmas Santa: Mario Danne, CIA TV

 

Farid Fisto 01

ENCOD Address Germany December 2023

by 2023AGENDACannabis Social Club

to German Policy Makers in the drug law debate

We, as ENCOD are closely looking at the development occuring in Germany, as we already supported some groups of citizens who are trying to set up Cannabis Social Clubs in conformity with our CSC guidelines published in 2020.

FILLER

Since 1993  we, as ENCOD have been engaged to promote human rights and health through drug policy reforms based on scientific evidence and the will of policy makers to implement laws and rules that are just and effective.
Our advocacy work is based on the claim and on the grassroots initiative of peoples who are first concerned or affected by drug policy laws and policies. 

We, as ENCOD are closely looking at the evolutions occuring in Germany, as we already supported some groups of citizens who are trying to set up Cannabis Social Clubs in conformity with our CSC guidelines published in 2020.

We, as ENCOD are deeply concerned by the lack of seriousness – or at the opposite the extreme need to overrule having appeared during the last months, with proposals leading more and more into a very negative path of regulation of the cannabis market, a little bit unrealistic. It seems that German policy makers would like to ensure that it will not work before it is voted!

ENCOD will fight any attempt to build a prohibition 2.0 model, which will surely lead to more problems than one century of prohibition had already caused to societies. 

Here below, we’d like to propose to you the following roadmap, with the hope that it will help to clear the way and avoid some extremely useless measures. 

Our roadmap proposal is based on many principles for which we hope you’ll share their motives : 

  • We need a liberal approach to drugs, not trivalising drugs, not calling drugs free of danger, but on the opposite, drugs should be monitored smartly.
  • We need a pragmatic approach that first gives priority to scientific data and good practices that can be testified. For instance, the Dutch approach in the 70’s with the coffeeshops and the Harm reductions measures has ensured a real prevention of drug use among the youngest, which still makes the Netherlands to remain one of the lowest EU countries’ prevalence among minors.
  • We need to ensure that it can help to empower the healthcare system by avoiding the misuse of financial resources and by spared taxes to fund adequately health care system needs. A real regulation of the cannabis market could help to save a lot of budget for the health care system !
  • We need to diminish the social costs due to drugs, with alcohol and tobacco, and ensure that cannabis products are safely used with harm reduction measures. 

At least, the German new law and new policy towards Cannabis could remain on experimental path e.g. for 3 to 5 years, so the laws and the policy can be adjusted if necessary. The CSC model is also an excellent place to run long-term evaluation studies for a lot of fields of study.

Our roadmap for the future is based on the Potsdam spirit, and we should be clear that we speak the same language.

Framework of regulations for the Cannabis market

General overview of the Roadmap plan

  • Decriminalization of drugs use
  • Regulation is possible under C61 art 2.9
  • Homegrow best to tackle black market ; CSC for the concerned “who deserve a place to exist”
  • Need to debate on the rules for society: no to the minor ; Responsible adult use; public use; advertisement, publicity, incomes use of taxes; harm reductions measures; 
  • Consumption and production issues : 
    • Production : limited surfaces but unlimited number of license to grow ; Rules for cultivation and sanitarian obligations ; 
    • Consumption : out of homegrow for self supply, and Cannabis Social Clubs for the “connoisseurs”, need to establish Cannashops / Cannabars / Drogueries store where adult people can buy Cannabis products – but a control should remain over the products which should avoid byproducts made with neocannabinoids. 

Roadmap for regulation of Cannabis sativa L. in full compliance with international law : Full article

Steps to take at the national level by German government

Following the example of Malta, German government legalization bill could suggest the reference to Article 2(9) indirectly, by:

  • Defining adult use/recreational use as “use for other than medical and scientific purposes”
  • Defining “abuse” as “substance use disorder”
  • Defining the sector created as “cannabis industry”
  • Enacting strong measures of harm reduction
  • Adopting a system to collect data towards yearly submission to INCB

Taking these steps and adding such language in the law (for example, in the “definitions” section or preambular section) has “considerable probative value” because it contains a “recognition by a party of its own obligations under an instrument.” 

Like in Malta and Uruguay, the “non-medical cannabis industry” regulated can take the shape of Cannabis Social Clubs or any other model: the concept of “industry” and “non-medical” is not tied to any economic or organizational model. 

Cannabis Clubs are just a local non-profit industry model.

Give it a try! Start models and evaluate! As a country of brilliant scientists this is one of the strengths of Germany – use brains not muscles!

I want to thank all our German friends and all supporters of ENCOD.

Thank you for your attention. 

ENCOD
European Coalition for
Just and Effective Drug Policies

Ukraine Medical Cannabis 01c

Ukraine Legal Medicinal Cannabis Petition

by 2023

pdf ENCOD Letter to Ukrainian parliament

Honorable members of the Ukraine parliament,
worldwide, thousands of patients have been treated with cannabis medicines so far.
According to what the doctors stated, overall, they suffered from more than fifty different diseases. There are mainly 5 indication areas.
These are:
– Chronic pain, such as pain due to nerve injury or migraine.
– Psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and sleep
disorders.
– Neurological disorders, such as epilepsy or spasticity due to paraplegia.
– Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis.
– Nausea and loss of appetite due to various causes.
Knowing this and having in mind the vulnerable situation Ukraine is in, we kindly ask you to support your president Zelenskyy in legalizing medicinal cannabis.

As per the academic study Farmability and Pharmability “Cannabinoids were considered easy to cultivate/manufacture.”
Knowing this, Ukraine can easily produce this kind of medicine without depending on foreign countries with little logistic effort and thus saving a lot of money. Medicinal cannabis provides an inexpensive, quickly accessible benefit for the brave people of Ukraine. Disciplined use is mandatory in any case.
We are no medical doctors, but we believe in the effects thanks to testimonies of patients from all over the world.
We focus on Human Rights.
Health is a fundamental human right, indispensable for the exercise of many other rights, in particular the right to development, and necessary for living a life in dignity.
The realization of the right to health is also a fundamental goal of State’s policies and programmes, regardless of their economic, social, cultural, religious or political background.
From a human rights perspective, access to medicines is intrinsically linked with the principles of equality and non-discrimination, transparency, participation, and accountability.
States are obliged to develop national health legislation and policies and to strengthen their national health systems.
For this purpose, key issues related to access to medicines must be taken into account such as: sustainable financing, availability and affordability of essential medicines; price and quality control; dosage and efficacy of medicines; procurement practices and procedures, supply chains, etc.
Against this background and as requested in Human Rights Council resolution 12/24, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) convened an expert consultation on 11 October 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland, “for an exchange of views on human rights considerations relating to the realization of access to medicines as one of the fundamental elements in achieving progressively the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” (para. 7, HRC res. 12/24).
The expert consultation focused on: (1) access to medicines as a fundamental element of the right to health; and (2) emerging issues, existing obstacles to providing accessto m edicines, and ways forward.
The consultation contributed to gathering and focusing expert opinions on the legal interpretation of the above issues, the need for increased policy coherence between human rights obligations and other areas of government policy-making, as well as strengthening the global partnership for development, institutional coordination and collective action towards enhancing access to medicines.

As member of UN VNGOC with ECOSOC status, we condemn/oppose the war waged by Russia.
We appeal to all UN member states to uphold international law with utmost respect.
The world needs peaceful solutions, instead of wasting lives and resources for war, which adds to the spiral of catastrophic events the whole world is facing.

We wish you a productive voting on legalizing medicinal cannabis in Ukraine and
may peace come to your country soon.

ENCOD
European Coalition for
Just and Effective Drug Policies

SaraG Anguis Drug War small 01

Free Sara Glatt 2023

by 2023

UPDATE: Sara Glatt is now released, we wish her all the best for her future.
July 2023: Sara Glatt is now incarcerated in The Netherlands. According to informants she will be released in September.

Iboga Healer Sara Glatt arrested in Norway, to be extradited to Dutch authorities.
Erec O. Kozàr
26.06.2023

Alternative medicine healer Sara Glatt was arrested in Norway and is to be extradited, as a result of an international arrest warrant by the Dutch authorities, according to whom she still has to serve 2 years and 3 months of a sentence she received some ten years ago.
Sara Glatt was sentenced to prison in The Netherlands. Incarcerated as punishment for the accidental death of an alcoholic she treated, but who unfortunately decided to quit the addiction treatment many days prematurely.
There was also the death of a woman in Sweden, the circumstances of which seem opaque, please see our article In dubi pro reo: Free Sara Glatt, written by Maja Kohek.

Sara Glatt treated the man in The Netherlands with the psychedelic iboga root .
Tabernanthe iboga is an evergreen rainforest shrub native to Central Africa, for more info we recommend to look at sites  Global Iboga Therapy Alliance and ICEERS Iboga and Ibogaine.

Iboga is ideally being used in specialized clinics, where possible, in order to cure people from often life threatening substance addictions. Sometimes, like in Sara’s case, the procedure takes place in private homes.
Mrs. Glatt says she has cured around one thousand individuals of their substance addictions.
 
Iboga treatment is proven by many successful treatments to be one highly efficient way of curing people of their addictions, it helps to erase the need of continued substance use and thus opens the path to a normal, healthy life in society.
Prohibition prevents this kind of treatment in many countries, so like any illicit substance, iboga is taken in secret, where safety sometimes is lacking.
Iboga treatment centers exist in some places where Iboga is not or kind of not prohibited.
Those clinics have special trained medical staff, who assist patients and can help them through difficulties. The procedure is not without dangers, requires discipline from everybody involved. The treatment might take many weeks to complete, depending on the individual needs.

 

Patients with the necessary financial funds may easily travel to a country, where Iboga treatment centers are available. Sara Glatt has decided to offer her services, forced by authorities to operate under maybe not ideal conditions.
What to this author’s thin knowledge happened in the case in the Netherlands 2012: Sara treated an alcoholic in her own home. The man got aggressive, as alcoholics tend to do, demanded to be released to a nearby hotel. Two days later he walked onto a highway and was overrun by a truck.
Killed by a truck, the Dutch authorities ruled it must be the psychedelic substance iboga to blame, not the lethal neurotoxin alcohol, which may or may not made the man lose his life to a moving vehicle.
We can observe it in connection with mixed consumption of alcohol and cannabis. mixing legal and illegalized drugs. The illicit substance is usually easy to blame, ignoring the well known brain- and nerve damaging effects of the drug alcohol.
Sara Glatt probably violated the privileges of established doctors and pharmacologists in The Netherlands, which could well be the true secret reason why they wanted the “Witch of Kockengen”, as she is titled in Dutch media, behind bars.
Patient’s death in established academic medicine is regrettably nothing unusual, doctors lose patients. It is a terrible thing for any practitioner, a pain they all have to live with.


Sara Glatt lives to heal people. She is an exceptionally courageous individual, who is willing to take a lot of personal risk to her own safety and well being when helping people.
Taking that risk may well be the worst thing she can be accused of.
Many people thank Sara Glatt for helping them to gain a life in peace, to be free from pressure and stigma, having gained or regained control and joy of their lives.

It is ENCOD’s position that both Sara Glatt and her deceased patients are victims of prohibition, victims of the inhumane War on Drugs, which has been officially declared by US president Richard Nixon in 1971 and has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives since, destroyed families, ravaged communities everywhere in the world.
“War on Drugs” is war on people, as people have always been traditionally cultivating drugs.

We at ENCOD are convinced that bad drug laws do more harm to people and society than the drugs themselves, if drugs were legal and regulated.

 

 


Therefore ENCOD – European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, member of the VNGOC at United Nations Organization, with ECOSOC status, formally protests against the judgment of the Dutch authorities: we oppose the demand to extradite Sara Glatt, an extradition which is scheduled to proceed these days.
We appeal to the Dutch authorities to pardon Sara Glatt, considering her honorable wish to heal people from their drug related suffering. 


We appeal to all European countries to review their drug laws immediately, focusing on the needs of their citizens, not blindly defending the privileges of an established system.
ENCOD invites all recipients to enter the public dialogue about treatment with psychedelics, by participating in civil society, discussing the latest scientific developments and discoveries in this field. Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies.

ENCOD appeals to Norway please stop the extradition of Sara Glatt. In the spirit of justice and human rights, a spirit which we know is strong in Norway.
This is a little late to appeal to Norway, the decision about Sara Glatt’s extradition has been made. But any decision can be revoked quickly, embracing human rights at heart.

In many places in our world war is a terrible reality.
“War on Drugs” – Prohibition is a terrible failure. If the intention was to bring peace in the first place, why not declare “Peace on Drugs”.
Prohibition kills thousands of people every day. How many drug related murders happen because of greed and obedience to inhumane laws?
Declare peace, to immediately end suffering, humiliation, death.
To punish a healer so severely shines an interesting light on the cynicism of modern society.
Please free Sara Glatt.

Our condolences to all victims of the War on People.

Erec O. Kozàr
26.06.2023

 

 

CANNAPARADE 2023 Paris

by Uncategorized

CANNAPARADE 2023 : La jeunesse marche pour revendiquer la légalisation du (…) – Cannabis Sans Frontières (cannabissansfrontieres.org)

CANNAPARADE 2023: Young people march to demand the legalisation of cannabis
A look back at the demonstration in Paris on 27 May 2023
Summary (below in images) of the CANNAPARADE 2023 in Paris

The Cannaparade went off smoothly, as always in good spirits and with no clashes or police provocations.

Behind the banner of “impatient patients”, with members of the associations Principes Actifs, NORML France, Cannabis Sans Frontières and Act up Paris leading the demonstration, entertained at the head of the procession by the Fanfare Funk Tarace Boulba, followed by the presence of the representative of the CIRC, Dominique Broc, who had come from Poitiers to provide the logistical convoy for the demonstration.

Around 1,000 people gathered along the route between the Place de la République and the Place de la Bastille. The mass of demonstrators gathered behind the speakers of the two sound system floats.

The first featured a performance by Wacko and BE Labeu, two of Etat2ND’s acolytes who, with DJ Dang, presented their compositions in an original hip hop style alternating with reggae, rap, grind and dubstep (a line-up that included Supamana and friends). On the other, a bevy of DJs providing the full Tekno mix for the KaoliSons sound system, like a free and block party atmosphere in the streets of Paris.

Since 2001, it’s clear that at this 22nd edition, as every year before, most of the demonstrators are young people, aged between 17 and 25.

As the Cannaparade set off from Place de la République, Françoise Dumont, Honorary President of the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme, spoke out in support of the demands made by the Cannaparade, first and foremost the decriminalisation of drug use and the reform of a law that does more damage to society than the drugs themselves.

All along the route, onlookers and astonished motorists, most of them honking their horns in support of the pro-cannabis demonstration, gave a surreal impression of a momentary space of new-found freedom.

The highlight of the day, unlike last year, was being able to make the most of the fine weather and the Arsenal esplanade, which featured 3 different kinds of music, including a speech by Fanny Fossier on behalf of Christophe Bex, chairman of the study group at the French National Assembly.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Cannaparade in Paris, on Saturday 25 May 2024.

FRANÇAIS

About Cannaparade (demonstration for cannabis legalization) in Paris (France). We were about 1000 people and everybody (even police representatives) enjoyed it and was asking for more action…

A BIG THANK YOU to SUDA-K te-ve