What is Cannabis?
Cannabis is an extract of the cannabis plant, grown for its leaves and flowers. International laws define the Cannabis plant as any plant of the genus cannabis covering cannabis Sativa, cannabis Indica and many other varieties. The cannabis plant is legally controlled when grown for industrial and research purposes only. The use of cannabis for recreation is prohibited by most if not all European countries and there is a prison sentence for illegal use.
European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
EMCDDA is an organization that stores data on drugs and it is also the reference point for all information on drug and drug addiction in Europe. The organization covers 30 European countries and more than 5 UN countries. EMCDDA has the largest database on cannabis, laws regulating the use and legalization of cannabis. EMCDDA reports that most European countries have changed their approach to cannabis. Although most EU states treat personal use of cannabis as an offense, most do not allow prison for minor offenses. There have been drafts to the parliament to legalize the use of the drug for recreational purposes claiming that if it was legal to use for medical and industrial use then it would be fair to allow personal possession. In 2012 voters in the state of Washington approved a system that allows controlled use and supply of cannabis for recreational use. In 2013 Uruguay passed the same law and since then most US states have legalized cannabis.
Europe’s Changing Approach
European governments are lagging in making policy refunds on the use of cannabis unlike countries like America which have already implemented the policy. The current policy trend towards the legalization of cannabis in other nations has put a lot of pressure on EU member states. It is now clear that the prohibitive model of controlling cannabis has failed terribly by impacting a heavy burden on criminal justice systems. It has impacted negatively on the social and public justice systems by creating organized crimes and increased corruption. Local authorities in Europe are now being faced with problems that cannot be solved without having a regulated system that will ensure transparency in the chain supply of cannabis for recreation. Introduction of cannabis social club movements have been on the increase pressuring authorities to make initiatives of changing the general look to the supply and use of cannabis. Surveys done globally have shown that most countries are now implementing new policies due to the changing look of cannabis and Europe will certainly have to copy from them if not implement theirs.
Conclusion
It is now clear that Europe will have to legalize a controlled use of cannabis for personal use the way industrial and medical use is. By doing so, they would have reduced criminal cases such as corruption that have risen beyond control click here for shrooms.