Source: Helsinki Times

6 january 2014

According to the Supreme Administrative Court the Finnish Cannabis Association should be allowed to register in the Register of Associations. The association is not legally contra bonos more, although it aims to change the current law, the court ruled.

The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland has rejected the Cannabis Association’s notice of registration. In their opinion the rules of the association are against good morals, as the purpose of the association is “against the opinions of justice and morality in our society”.

The purpose of the rules of the Cannabis Association is to influence intoxicant policies and legislation so that the use, possession and farming of cannabis would be legal for adults.

The Supreme Administrative Court points out in its yearbook ruling that according to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) denying the association the right to register is a serious restriction on the freedom of association. Registration can only be prevented through heavy social grounds.

The Supreme Administrative Court emphasises that influencing policies on the use of intoxicants is not against democratic or constitutional principles. It is not the court’s task to take a stance on whether the goal of the association is acceptable as such, the ruling states. The decision on legalising cannabis would remain the responsibility of the parliament.

“There is no such common social need that compels to deny the association the right to become registered”, the court outlines.

The Supreme Administrative Court made the yearbook decision at the plenary session of the entire division.

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