Kretschmer: Cannabis legalization a "big mistake"

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer has described the partial legalization of cannabis in Germany as one of the "biggest mistakes in German politics". "The consequences will occupy us for decades and it is not at all foreseeable what has been decided today," said the CDU politician on Friday after the decision in the state chamber. Saxony had voted inconsistently in the Bundesrat in the vote to refer the matter to the Mediation Committee - the vote was therefore declared invalid. Kretschmer wanted to involve the committee, while Deputy Prime Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) expressed his opposition to invoking it.

With such an issue, the vote is not about party affiliation and "coalition arithmetic", but about one's own conscience. Kretschmer warned of serious consequences for addiction counseling and prevention work in the state, as well as for the protection of children and young people. The amnesty regulation would also cause chaos in the judicial authorities. "Drug liberalization is a big mistake and is causing considerable damage to our society."