Belgium: cannabis debate, decriminalizes the possession of 5 grammes of cannabis by an adult
Dear friends,
Herewith I send you a press release of the Antwerp Users’Union (STAD) with a contribution to the cannabis debate in Belgium.
Antwerp cannabis lovers draw up their plant
A group of cannabis consumers in Antwerp is proposing the Belgian government a simple solution to the problem of illegal cultivation and trade in cannabis. Within the margins of the current legislation on cannabis.
At the moment in Belgium, cannabis legislation is ruled by a ministerial directive of 25 January 2005. If there are no conditions that produce public nuisance, such as the presence of minors, the possession of 3 grammes or one plant is not persecuted. However, some consumers can not cultivate cannabis at their homes because they have children, because the lack the space for it or just because they are not able to grow plants.
Yesterday, the leader of the Parti Socialiste (PS), Elio di Rupo, presented a new law proposal that decriminalizes the possession of 5 grammes of cannabis by an adult, but it remains unclear how consumers would obtain their cannabis legally. Di Rupo proposes to take the Dutch experiences as an example, but exactly these experiences show that there is a need for control on cultivation and distribution of cannabis.
On a meeting held last Saturday 11 February, a group of cannabis consumers in Antwerp has taken the initiative to establish an association, called ’TREKT UW PLANT’ ("Draw up your plant") with the objective of making a collective plantation of 1 cannabis plant per person, and promote sound methods of cultivation. This way, the members of the association can provide themselves in a closed circuit without being dependent on the illegal market.
We ask the responsible decision-makers in the Belgian Federal Government to take into account our model when deciding on the PS law proposal and ask all cannabis consumers who like our proposal to join us.
Steunpuntantwerpsedruggebruikers at yahoo.com
Stijn Goossens 0479 98 22 71
Joep Oomen 03 237 74 36
STAD (STeunpunt Antwerpse Druggebruikers)
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