Atassut: Cannabis should be decriminalized

Aqqalu Jerimiassen is considering preparing a proposal for consideration in Inatsisartut.

Cannabis is used today in Greenland and constitutes a source of both income and smuggling, which needs to be addressed.

Therefore, cannabis should be decriminalized in Greenland.

This is the attitude of Atassutip chairman and member of Parliament, Aqqalu Jerimiassen.

He intends to draft a bill that he will present to his fellow legislators with a view to legalizing cannabis.

However, he emphasizes that cannabis should not be freely available everywhere, but suggests that publicly regulated cannabis bars be established.

– We should consider creating special closed bars where only this type of consumption can take place, Aqqalu Jerimiassen tells KNR.

Does not want complete legalization

According to him, cannabis should not be freely available in retail. This means that he does not want complete legalization. However, he wants to contribute to legalization where the public sector is responsible for purchasing and distributing.

The future bill proposer wants collaboration with private actors to be a possibility.

He expects that this model can help reduce both the consumption of hard drugs and their smuggling.

– It can drop significantly. There is documentation of this elsewhere, as studies conducted in the USA, the Netherlands and Germany have shown that the approach has an effect, says Aqqalu Jerimiassen.

Not worried

If the Greenlandic government allows cannabis to be sold, he wants the financial profits to be used for strengthened efforts against the smuggling of hard drugs and for the treatment of addiction.

– Tax revenues and any fees could be used to legalize cannabis, for treatment purposes and to combat smuggling, says Aqqalu Jerimiassen.

Although cannabis is also described as an intoxicant, the future bill proposer does not fear that legalization will lead to increased addiction in the population.

– I am not worried. My primary goal is to improve treatment options by decriminalizing cannabis, says Aqqalu Jerimiassen.

If the presidency of Inatsisartut approves the topic as a resolution proposal, the future bill proposer expects that it will be considered in Inatsisartut during the autumn.