Cannabis plant.
Luxembourg to legalise adult-use of cannabis for non-medical purposes
Luxembourg joins Malta in the legalisation of the adult-use of cannabis for non-medical purposes. The first European country to do so was Malta, another extremely small country on the map which is taking action to counteract the illegal trade in cannabis. Differently from Luxembourg, Malta also created a legal framework for the creation of coffee shops in 2021; however, no cannabis club licenses have been issued up to date.But what does this news actually mean in Luxembourg? Starting from the 21st July 2023 (following the law of July 10, 2023, amending the amended Act of February 19, 1973, concerning the sale of medicinal substances and the fight against drug addiction), four plants per domestic household can be cultivated indoors — the plants must not be visible from public space. Thus, private consumption of home-grown cannabis at home or the habitual residence is authorised for adults. Additionally, a simplified criminal procedure has been introduced for possession, consumption, possession, transport and acquisition in public, for personal use only, of a maximum of three grams of cannabis by adults.
Cultivating our first cannabis plant in Luxembourg
So here we are in Luxembourg trying to grow our four plants indoors, with minimal equipment. Our first plant is growing at a significant speed now. We are applying a LED grow light for 18 hours a day, alternating with a 6-hour night period. The extra light consistently boosted the growth not only of our baby plant, but also of the other fellow planties positioned close-by. It is pretty incredible how light can make such a big change. The daily growth of the plant is clearly visible, giving immediate satisfaction.
Expecting each plant to reach 125cm in height, we decided to reserve a separate pot for each seed. We opted for pots that are big enough to accommodate the future roots. We also bought a digital pH meter pen, to monitor the pH levels of the soil for indoor plants we are using. In fact, the soil needs to range from 6 to 7 on the pH scale for cannabis cultivation. As water can cause changes in the soil, we measured the pH of tap water, and found out that water pH is set at 7 in Luxembourg.
A second sprout emerged from the soil today
As for now, it is the only plant that has successfully sprouted and grown a little in height, while all being auto flower cannabis seeds. We have planted 2 more seeds in the last month — we long waited but no actual output resulted from them. We feel more hopeful about the last seed we have recently planted: a sprout emerged from the soil today. It might be pretty obvious, but the seed must have correctly germinated in the humid sterilised cotton in order to grow once in the soil.So this is to say that incorrect germination conditions can lead to no plant, even when dealing with autoflower seeds. It is important to have correct levels of nutrients, heat, and moisture. Plus, the seeds should not be planted too deep, to enjoy oxygen.
Cannabis sprout.
The next steps in the process of growing cannabis plants
We look forward to the next steps in the process in our small apartment, hoping the scent will not invade our small apartment. We still have a limited notion of what we will be doing with the crop. It certainly will be our first time drying and curing cannabis buds. On the other hand, consuming fresh cannabis leaves and trims in drinks, salads or any other dish, seems to be a good idea. As far as it goes, we have preferred to focus on the process rather than the ultimate result. While supporting the modification in the legislation, I have personally been reticent about the idea of having cannabis plants at home and am experiencing the growth of our first plant primarily from the standpoint of an observer.