Bernhard Amann, chairman of the “Ex und Hopp” association, was a guest on “Vorarlberg LIVE” on Thursday.
The German traffic light coalition plans to introduce “controlled sales of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes in licensed shops”. In Switzerland, since the beginning of the year, pilot projects have been running in several large cities where cannabis is sold for enjoyment. Possession is still prohibited in Austria. Thomas Flax spoke in “Vorarlberg LIVE” with ex and Hopp club chairman Bernhard Amann about the legalization of cannabis and 30 years of drug contact points in Vorarlberg.
“A Right Step”
Bernhard Amann, chairman of the drug advice center Ex und Hopp in Dornbirn, has been calling for the legalization of cannabis for many years. In principle, therefore, the plans in Germany should also be approved. “It’s a step in the right direction. But what surprises me is that some things have been taken back. I guess there are fears that the legalization could be overturned by the EU side.” Other European countries, such as the Czech Republic, pushed ahead years ago.
Anger at standstill
Amann is annoyed by the standstill in this country. According to him, decriminalization is urgently needed. It is up to the federal government to act and change the law accordingly. Switzerland also chose a far more pragmatic approach than Austria. “Are you supposed to stand at the border and frisk everyone? It is important that a paradigm shift finally takes place,” demands the chairman of the “Legalize! Austria.”
The whole show
According to Amann, the debate about THC limits in traffic is particularly significant. Last year, the state’s drug advisory board wanted a limit for drivers, just like there is for alcohol. This is already the case in many European countries. Cannabis is detectable in the blood longer than the impairing effect lasts. So far, however, the Drug Advisory Board has fallen on deaf ears at the federal level.
The broadcast “Vorarlberg LIVE” is a cooperation between VOL.AT, VN.at, Ländle TV and VOL.AT TV and is broadcast from Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. There’s more here.
