Irish Examiner view: German plans on legalising cannabis being closely watched

Olaf Schultz’s coalition government intends to legalise ‘bubatz’ for recreational use

A draft bill on legalising cannabis is expected before the German Bundestag this year.

‘Bubatz’ is a slang German word for ‘weed’ and in the coming months it could become part of the lingua franca of the EU as Germany presses ahead with plans to become potentially the largest market for legally sold cannabis in the world.

Plans by Olaf Schultz’s coalition government to legalise ‘bubatz’ for recreational use are being closely watched everywhere, from the UN to governments across Europe, among fears the German move will hasten the controlled distribution of the drug among adults worldwide.