Reuters reports that the German cabinet has passed a bill to legalise cannabis for recreational use.

Although the bill has still to be passed by parliament, this is probably only a formality, and means that Germany will join the growing number of countries legalising cannabis/marijuana (more details on where and under what conditions it is legal here on Wikipedia).

The bill will allow adults to possess "up to 25 grams (0.88 oz) of the drug, grow a maximum of three plants, or acquire weed as associates of non-profit cannabis clubs".

The situation regarding cannabis in Germany has for decades been in limbo. In the late 1990s, the German federal government cancelled all federal legislation against cannabis, and left it to the Lände (states) to enact their own legislation; there was a period of about 3 months between the cancellation of the federal legislation and its replacement by state legislation when cannabis was legal. All states chose to make cannabis illegal, but most have chosen not to enforce those laws for possession for small quantities for personal use, although dealing and possession of larger quantities is prosecuted; the notable exception is Bavaria (where I live) which has continued to prosecute even possession of tiny amounts, and Bavaria may attempt to continue to do so despite the change of the law at the federal level.

As someone who suffers from a lot of pain (due to a back injury), this change in the law is very welcome.

I can see a lot of people getting very upset by the news that, when he is in Bolivia, the Pope plans to chew coca leaves, as reported in this BBC story.

I do understand that chewing coca leaves is a very different thing to snorting cocaine, and also that coca is a hot political issue in Bolivia. Coca tea and chewing coca leaves are traditions in Bolivia (although being traditions does not automatically make them OK), but the practice has been under pressure in recent years because of efforts by the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). Bolivia has now distanced itself from the DEA programme, and made the DEA's practice of burning coca crops illegal in the country.

Nevertheless, there will of course be the usual crop of ignorant people, especially in the USA, who do not understand the distinction, and will see the Pope's position as endorsing cocaine and fuelling the drug problem in the USA. I have a suggestion for those ignorant people: watch a different news channel (Fox News is not helping you with your ignorance), do some basic research on the Internet, and maybe even try reading a couple of books.

There has been lots of debate about "illegal drugs", and will be much more. There are some good arguments on both sides, mixed in with heaps of propaganda (and it doesn't matter who does it, nor what side they are on: I hate being lied to and misled). Nevertheless, one pretty solid fact is that the biggest problems caused by illegal drugs are not caused directly by the drugs themselves, but (directly or indirectly) by them being illegal.