Adult-Use Cannabis Policy Modernization Measure Introduced In Slovenia

Lawmakers in Slovenia are continuing their push to modernize the European nation’s cannabis policies, with a measure being recently introduced that would permit certain adult-use cannabis activity.

“We are implementing the will of the voters,” said Natasa Sukic, a member of parliament for the co-governing Left Party, this week in support of a bill introduced in parliament together with Prime Minister Robert Golob’s social-liberal Freedom Movement (GS), per original reporting by Salzburger Nachrichten. “According to analyses, cannabis is no more dangerous than other already legalized drugs—such as tobacco and alcohol.”

“The proposed bill on private cannabis consumption, which may be revised again after a public debate, is based – with some deviations – on the regulations in Luxembourg, Germany, and Malta.” the outlet also wrote.

Below are reportedly some of the components of the adult-use cannabis policy modernization proposal being considered in Slovenia:

• Individual adults would be permitted to cultivate up to 4 cannabis plants in private residences, and a maximum of up to 6 plants in households where multiple adult residents live.
• Adults would be allowed to possess up to 7 grams of cannabis when away from their residences.
• Individual adults would be permitted to possess up to 150 grams of cannabis in their private residences, and a maximum of 300 grams in households where multiple adult residents live.
• Gifting cannabis to other adults would be legal in certain circumstances.
• Selling cannabis, driving under the influence, and public consumption would all remain prohibited.
• A 3 ng/mL THC per se limit would be the minimum threshold for driving under the influence violations, and penalties would increase for violations involving 3-5 ng/mL test results and test results over 5 ng/mL.
• Employers would be prohibited from testing their employees for cannabis use.

The recently introduced measure in Slovenia is just the beginning of the political process, and certain provisions may be changed if/when the proposal reaches its conclusion. The introduction of the adult-use cannabis policy modernization measure comes mere days after Slovenia’s National Assembly approved a historic medical cannabis measure.

Last year, Slovenia’s voters approved both a medical cannabis referendum measure and an adult-use referendum measure. The vote on medical cannabis received 66.71% approval from Slovenia’s voters, with the measure being approved in every voting district in the country. The only other vote that received that level of unified approval in the European country was Slovenia’s vote for independence.

Additionally, the adult-use measure received 51.57% approval from Slovenian voters. While neither referendum vote was legally binding, it is clear that Slovenia’s lawmakers have acknowledged the will of the nation’s voters, and that is encouraging.