Bonn CBD Shops Prepare for Cannabis Legalization

Suddenly it seems possible what the cannabis scene has been fighting for for years: the traffic light coalition has decided on key points for the legalization of cannabis in Germany. The operators of stores in Bonn that sell accessories for consumption or hemp plants without intoxicating ingredients are happy about this. The GA spoke with two Bonn vendors about their expectations.

At “Tante Klara” on Thomas-Mann-Strasse, only products with the active ingredient CBD (cannabidiol) have crossed the counter so far. “CBD is like alcohol-free beer,” said owner Wolfgang Rühl. Cannabis flowers, chewing gum, or sweets with CBD are said to have a relaxing effect. “In the press, people often talk about gateway drugs,” he said. “But I think CBD is more of an exit drug.”

That’s because many of his customers have used cannabis, which contains the psychoactive ingredient THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), for years, he said. The drug is subject to the Narcotics Act and is not freely available. For many users, the illegal acquisition of the substance is no longer compatible with ambitious career plans or the imminent founding of a family, he said. “They then buy CBD flowers from us because they like the gesture of smoking and the taste,” Rühl reported.

Read more about CBD shops in Bonn and how they prepare for the legalization of cannabis, and find the most important cannabis news of the day with the Hemp.im mobile app.

Unlike CBD products, cannabis containing THC, with its psychoactive effects, can impair cognition, cause anxiety and panic attacks, and be addictive

Long-term use significantly increases the risk of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the police register high numbers of cannabis offenses in Bonn: in 2022 alone, there were 941 offenses (trafficking, importation, cultivation) in the area of the Bonn police department – around 63 percent of all recorded narcotics offenses.

The local police union warns of the effects on roadworthiness and rejects legalization with reference to the health risks. Advice centers also point to high risks. Advocates of decriminalization of psychoactive substances, including German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, argue that controlled distribution would have advantages. Legalization would curb the black market, protect minors and ensure the quality of the narcotic.

The federal government’s plan calls for the cultivation and non-commercial sale of THC to adults in so-called cannabis social clubs

Possession of up to 25 grams and three plants for private cultivation are also to be exempt from punishment. Scientific findings on the commercial trade in psychoactive cannabis will then be collected in selected model regions. This will allow companies to produce, distribute and dispense the substance. Alongside Bavaria, NRW has also decided against acting as a model region.

For Bonn, therefore, only the cannabis social club business model comes into question. “There is definitely a very high interest in the city, because most consumers prefer legal sources,” explains “Tante Klara” store owner Rühl.

High demand for the intoxicant is also seen by Aaron Du Sartz, who offers cannabis accessories in the neighboring store “Galactic.” Since 1989, the so-called head and grow store have offered cannabis grinders, vaporizers, and bongs. Equipment for home cultivation, which is still illegal, is also available at “Galactic.”

“Most often, customers buy leaflets and activated carbon filters to roll joints,” Du Sartz reported. He thinks it’s likely that cannabis will soon be available for purchase at the store. “We’ve been interested in getting into the market for a long time,” the salesman says. “People are going to get stoned either way.” But many of his customers would rather know what substances they are ingesting and in what doses than be served on the black market by dubious dealers.

Social clubs as a way to sell THC in Bonn

Before “Tante Klara” and “Galactic” can go on the market as cannabis social clubs, the implementation must be planned. Here, Wolfgang Rühl still sees hurdles. “On the one hand, we would be faced with very high investments, for example, a greenhouse for cultivation is priced in the six-figure range,” says the owner. Another financial difficulty lies in the non-commercial concept of social clubs envisioned by the federal government so far. “As long as the parameters are not on the table, it’s an equation with too many unknowns,” Rühl said.

Still, if the model turns out to be a worthwhile business for him, he already has a market niche in mind. “On the black market, quality is usually measured by THC content,” the businessman said. For sale on the street, cannabis is heavily overbred and sometimes sprayed with synthetic substances that promise an even more intense high, he said. “I would like to see a shift away from the focus on maximum highs,” the dealer says. He would like to offer his customers cannabis that contains less intoxicating THC and more relaxing CBD.

Prevention and education, also with regard to the protection of minors, is already being carried out by “Aunt Klara” in the form of lectures, said salesman Maximilian Joram. “The science is still in its infancy,” he explained. That makes it all the more important to raise awareness of the topic, he said.

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(Featured image by  Alesia Kozik via Pexels)

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