Investigations against Özdemir for hemp plant

Investigations against Green leader Özdemir because of hemp plant

01/18/2015

Through the internet campaign „Ice Bucket Challenge“ Over the last few months, tens of millions of euros in donations have been collected worldwide for the fight against a rare nerve disease. Greens boss Cem Özdemir also participated with a video. However, a hemp plant can be seen in the background. Therefore, investigations are now underway against the politician.

Donations for the fight against rare nervous disease
In the past months came through the Internet action „Ice Bucket Challenge“ worldwide tens of millions of euros donations for the fight against the rare nervous disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) together. The participants showered for a video with ice water and nominate other people to participate or donate. Green leader Cem Özdemir also participated in the campaign. Because of the video run against the politician of a message from the news agency dpa According to now investigations.

In addition to the green boss is a hemp plant to see
A report of the „Picture on Sunday“ („BamS“) According to the Berlin prosecutor against the Greens chairman Cem Özdemir because of the possession of a hemp plant. The immunity of the Member of the Bundestag had been lifted on suspicion of the addition of narcotics. Neither the 49-year-old politician nor the prosecutors have been confirmed so far. At the time Özdemir stood on his balcony next to a hemp plant. From the genus cannabis you can make hashish and marijuana. Ownership and cultivation of plants are not legal in Germany and constitute a violation of the Narcotics Act.

Procedure is probably set
Already after the incident at the end of August 2014 Özdemir had one „deliberately set“ spoken political statement. Now he adds: „The whole absurdity of the German drug policy shows up when prosecutors and police have to determine in a video because of a political statement in the form of a carefully placed cannabis plant.“ Loud „BamS“ judiciary is expected to suspend the case against Özdemir for insignificance.

Reform of drug policy
By the German Confederation of German Criminal Investigators (BDK), the incident was then as „slight fussiness“ interpreted by the politician. Özdemir did not seem to notice that the video featured a hemp plant and then charmingly tried to justify it as a political act of drug liberalization. At least, this presumed the BDK chairman André Schulz. It is said that the BDK is also campaigning for a reform of drug policy, including to decriminalize consumers.

Incurable disease
In the disease ALS, which was at that time actually, occur, among other things, violent muscle twitching and heavy swallowing problems. In addition, it leads to damage to nerve cells. It is not curable and causes death in about half of the patients within the first three years. Only in exceptional cases sufferers live with the disease for more than a decade. The therapy focuses mainly on the relief of symptoms and psychological care. Nationwide, according to experts, between 7,000 and 8,000 sufferers. From professionals was the action „Ice Bucket Challenge“ not because of harmless hemp plants, but because of the potential promotion of nonsensical animal experiments criticized. So had among other things the union „Doctors against animal testing“ called on the nominees not to donate to the ALS Association because it would also finance cruel and pointless animal experiments that do not benefit ALS research. (Ad)