Finland to Review Cannabis Legalization Bill in 2024

In 2024, the Finnish Parliament will consider a bill to legalize recreational cannabis, developed by activists advocating for drug policy reform.

Widespread Support for Cannabis Legalization

Last year, on April 20th—Cannabis Day—activists collected the required 50,000 signatures in support of an initiative to legalize cannabis. The proposal calls for lifting the ban on:

• Personal use, possession, and cultivation of cannabis by citizens
• Cultivation, processing, and sale of cannabis by legal entities

Supporters of legalization have suggested creating a regulated cannabis market in Finland, similar to the existing systems for tobacco and alcohol. Activists believe this approach could minimize the harm caused by cannabis abuse to both individuals and society as a whole.

Political and Public Reactions

Koel Thomas, a member of the Green Party, voiced his support for legalizing cannabis, stating:

“The cannabis ban benefits large criminal organizations, which make incredibly high profits, while we lose out on hundreds of millions of euros in tax revenue and miss the opportunity to create new jobs. It’s likely that the number of cannabis users will increase after legalization, but this is already happening despite the criminal status of cannabis. Meanwhile, alcohol and tobacco consumption is actually decreasing, even though they are legal.”

Chances of Legalization Remain Uncertain

It is still unclear when exactly Parliament will debate the cannabis legalization bill. However, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has already dismissed the proposal, saying in an interview:

“We have not yet discussed the failed policy of cannabis prohibition. If this civic initiative leads to anything, it will only be the start of more meaningful discussions about changing the legal status of cannabis.”

Orpo believes the bill will meet the same fate as a 2019 decriminalization proposal, which also gathered over 50,000 signatures but failed in Parliament. However, thanks to a 2001 drug policy reform, possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis or 10 grams of hashish in Finland is currently punishable by a fine equivalent to 10–20 days’ wages.

Opposition and Scientific Perspectives

Kim Kannussaari, a member of the EHYT organization for combating drug abuse, opposes cannabis legalization. He claims that cannabis use impairs cognitive abilities, short-term memory, and makes learning more difficult. However, recent American studies have challenged this view. Researchers conducted studies involving twins and found that moderate cannabis use by adults does not impair cognitive function or harm mental health.