A citizens’ initiative to legalise cannabis is set to be debated in Finnish parliament after gathering more than 50,000 signatures.
Politicians will debate the legalisation of cannabis in Finland in after a citizens’ initiative gained enough support from members of the public.
The initiative calls for the legalisation of the use, possession, personal cultivation, manufacture and sale of cannabis in Finland, subject to age restrictions.
It aims to stop the harm caused by prohibition and build a ‘sustainable regulatory system’ that ‘protects and promotes human rights and public health, reduces crime, corruption and violence and protects children and young people’.
The initiative gained the required 50,000 signatures by Thursday 20 April, which also happened to be 420, an annual day of celebration for the cannabis community, which traditionally sees campaigners rally for reform.
As well as ending the criminalisation of consumers, the initiative proposes placing a tax on cannabis, similar to alcohol and tobacco and ‘clearly defining’ the difference between cannabis containing intoxicating compounds and hemp for use in industries such as agriculture.
Cannabis, when used as an illegal drug, is prohibited in Finland under the Cannabis Prohibition Act. Medicinal use is permitted for a small number of medical conditions, but only around 100 patients are thought to have legal access.
The start of a conversation
Currently Finland’s Green Party is the only political party which publicly supports the legalisation of cannabis.
Coel Thomas is a local Green Party politician and campaigner for cannabis reform in Finland, who was involved in writing the initiative.
He told Cannabis Health that while the initiative is unlikely to win a majority of votes from the main political parties, it is the ‘start of the conversation’ and a step towards what he believes will see legalisation in Finland ‘within the decade’.
“It seems likely that we will have a right-wing conservative government coming in, but even under a centre-right or centre-left government, it’s not likely that we could advance legalisation. I don’t see how it could get a majority of votes,” he explained.
“However, we are starting a conversation in Finland right now, that in my opinion, will most likely lead to the legalisation and regulation of cannabis this decade.”
A survey carried out by the Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) last year found that the majority of Fins were in favour of cannabis decriminalisation, with 30% admitting to having tried illicit drugs at some point in their lives, most commonly cannabis.
A previous citizens’ initiative for the decriminalisation of cannabis, which also received 50,000 signatures in 2019, was voted down by parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee in April 2022.
“[Decriminalisation] does tackle some of the inhumane parts of our current prohibition, but it’s a temporary bandage on route to a better system,” said Thomas.
“[Regulation] allows us to tax products, to ensure production happens in a safe way and create jobs.”
However, up until now, few Finnish politicians have taken a public stance on cannabis.
“Politicians in favour are afraid to talk about it because they’re afraid of losing votes and politicians are afraid to talk against it because they are afraid of losing arguments,” said Thomas.
“Our public health authorities have never taken a stance either in favour of, or against cannabis, so interesting things are happening in Finland now. There needs to be proper public discourse around the issue [in order for] people to change their minds.”
According to the European Drug Report 2022, Finland has the highest rate of overdose deaths among 25s in Europe.
“We have a lot of substance abuse issues and a very high rate of overdoses here, so Fins understand the need for some kind of reform and harm reduction methods, and the majority support these kinds of measures,” he added.
“But that’s also because these issues have been discussed in the media.”
Looking to its European counterparts
Thomas is confident that the debate, alongside moves from Finland’s European counterparts to introduce more liberal cannabis legislation, will help drive change.
“Germany is probably the most interesting development for us, as Finland has a lot of historical ties with Germany and it is our biggest trade partner.
“When Czechia, Luxembourg and also Switzerland and the Netherlands get there, they are basically going to create a common market for cannabis,” he said.
“Do I still have some hope that we could do it in this parliamentary session? Of course, but I don’t have a lot of confidence that will happen. If not this government, I think the next one.”
Thomas added: “We’ve broken the silence and what holds prohibition up is the silence around it, because there are no real arguments for prohibition – once you get into it, it doesn’t hold up.”
