Ministry Head in Charge of Health at the National Level - Lauterbach claims Bavaria displays dishonesty regarding marijuana use.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach recently criticized the Bavarian state government, led by the CSU, for what he perceives as hypocrisy with regard to the use of substances such as cannabis and alcohol. During a discussion on the matter at an event marking 75 years of the German constitution, Lauterbach remarked, "It's so hypocritical. On the one hand, they claim that federal laws don't apply here in Bavaria. And that's just not the case. The whole thing is untrustworthy."
Lauterbach's comment was met with applause from the audience. He continued, "Secondly: the hypocrisy factor. If people are so drunk that they can't even walk to the bathroom, then I don't think it would matter if they smoked a joint or two. If we're going to have these huge beer mugs and folks so wasted they're practically lying in the dirt, who cares if they have a bit of cannabis?"
The Bavarian government, under the leadership of the CSU, had long opposed the legalization of cannabis. However, they relented when the federal law took effect on April 1. Still, they continue to impose bans on its public use, even implementing a list of fines.
Lauterbach confirmed that cannabis would not be taxed. He added, "We've considered whether cannabis could be sold in stores like cigarettes. But that's not possible under European law. Plus, we don't want to create a huge market with extensive marketing."
To address this, the government chose a cooperative model for cannabis cultivation. These cooperatives are limited to growing cannabis strictly for their members' personal use, without profit or taxation. Lauterbach humorously referred to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), saying, "Mr. Lindner - who we respect highly - is leaving with no reward."
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Source: www.stern.de