As the debate on cannabis progresses across the European continent, a new chapter is beginning to be written. According to a report by NewsWeed, the European Union has launched Cannapol, a set of tools aimed at supporting Member States in formulating public policies on the recreational use of the plant, a gesture that recognizes, above all, that the time of punitive prohibition is fading away.

Created by the European Drug Agency (EUDA), Cannapol proposes an evidence-based and harm reduction approach, following the changing perception that is already spreading throughout society. Germany, the Netherlands, Malta, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are leading this process, structuring their own legalization models focused on adult use.

For Michael Greif, CEO of the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), the project represents a cautious but right step towards European regulation. However, he warns that EUDA's limited experience within continental bureaucracy could turn Cannapol into a mere bureaucratic exercise if dialogue with society and industry is not effective.

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EUDA, which acts as a branch of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, promises that the project will be developed in collaboration with regulators, researchers, and civil organizations. The first three-year phase involves data collection in up to twelve countries and the involvement of around fifty experts, an effort to deeply understand how each nation has been dealing with the issue.

Stephen Murphy, co-founder of Prohibition Partners, emphasizes that the success of the initiative depends on active listening. According to him, regulatory frameworks do not work in a vacuum and must reflect market and societal realities. He cites the example of Switzerland, where regulators have been working collaboratively with different sectors to build more humane and effective policies.

According to EUDA, Cannapol will serve as a roadmap for countries wishing to develop evidence-based legislations, without directly interfering with national autonomy. The project will not address medicinal use but will focus exclusively on recreational cannabis, analyzing aspects such as cultivation, banking services, and licensing models.

A recent study by the agency itself revealed that two-thirds of EU countries (19 out of 27) support some form of cannabis regulation for recreational use. Public opinion, although variable, shows a growing movement of understanding that punitive control has not solved consumption challenges, only widened inequalities and distances.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) already recognizes the need to replace punitive models with policies that prioritize public health, human rights, and social development, according to NewsWeed.

With information from NewsWeed.