Ice bucket challenge puts German politician in trouble

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A German Green Party leader’s participation in the social media-driven ice bucket challenge may have landed him in hot water after officials learned of a cannabis plant in the video he recorded for the charity campaign.Germany

The plant was spotted in a video of Cem Oezdemir dumping ice water over his head on the roof terrace of his Berlin home, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said.

The cultivation of cannabis is illegal in Germany.

It is not clear whether Oezdemir was aware of the plant when the clip was filmed, but he has since used the incident to call for liberalizing Germany’s law regarding the drug.

Oezdemir said his party stood for freedom, saying the clip was a “soft political statement.”

“Consuming cannabis by being aware of the risks is a personal choice and the freedom of individuals living in a free society,” he said.

The video was just “a small piece of stupidity,” said BKA chief Andre Schutz.

The BKA has also called for liberalizing the consumption of the drug. Only farmers are permitted to cultivate cannabis under certain circumstances.

“But the law is relatively clear,” Schutz added.

Under current law, police are required to look into the case to establish how many plants might have been under cultivation.

The ice bucket challenge, which celebrities around the world have joined, is part of a campaign to promote awareness of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which attacks motor neurons in the body that control muscles.

 

 

 

GNA
PDC

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