The German Bundestrat the Friday to decriminalize limited personal cannabis consumption and cultivation, allowing the act to come into effect on April 1. The act was previously approved by the Bundestag in February. The act seeks to better regulate cannabis consumption and combat organized crime. The act requires a cultivation association to apply for a permit to engage in cannabis cultivation. Licensed cultivation associations may only charge membership fees and cannot operate for profits. The act also seeks to protect minors. Firstly, cannabis consumption is prohibited in the immediate presence of minors, anywhere near children’s and youth facilities and in pedestrian zones in the daytime. Cultivation associations are also not allowed to sell cannabis to minors. In addition, the act also increases the minimum sentence to two years upon a conviction of intentional commercial distribution or supply of cannabis and other narcotics to minors. The Federal Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, welcomed the approval, stating that bans alone are insufficient to enhance health protection. He added that the act makes the black market undesirable and protects users from tainted drugs and higher-than-expected concentrations. The act has not been without controversy. The main center around the effectiveness of the act in relieving the burden on the
police and protecting minors. Opposition lawmakers have expressed worry that the lack of controlled distribution in licensed associations might not stop organized crime. They also raised concerns that police may not have the resources to enforce the law. According to government statistics, 4.5 million adults in
Germany have used cannabis at least once. Stamp Act passed by
British Parliament On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a revenue-raising measure under which all pamphlets, almanacs, newspapers, bonds, notes, leases, insurance policies, and legal papers had thenceforward to be issued on stamped paper that could only be purchased from the king's officers.
American colonists objected to the Act, saying that Parliament did not have the right to impose duties and taxes on a people who were not represented in the House of Commons. Review the terms of the and see the of October 1765, petitioning for repeal. Arab League formed On March 22, 1945, the was formed in Cairo,
Egypt to promote the cultural and political interests of the Arab World. Since then, the original six-nation roster of Egypt,
Syria,
Saudi Arabia, Transjordan (now Jordan),
Lebanon, and
Iraq has now expanded to twenty-two member states. Read the and a of the Arab League from the
BBC.