On Wednesday, the Finnish Parliament voted against a citizen's initiative aimed at legalizing cannabis. The initiative sought to establish a legal framework for the possession, consumption, personal cultivation, preparation, and sale of cannabis in Finland under certain age restrictions. Ultimately, 145 parliamentary representatives voted against the proposal, while only 18 supported it.

Prior to the vote, the legal affairs committee recommended rejecting the initiative, emphasizing potential health risks associated with cannabis use. This recommendation was backed by committee members who argued that while cannabis may be less harmful than many other substances, it still has the potential to cause addiction and other adverse effects. These points were highlighted as key reasons for the committee's opposition.

In their report, the legal affairs committee concluded that the proposed framework could lead to an increase in consumption and related harms across the population as the market for cannabis expands. The rejection reflects ongoing concerns about drug policy and public health in Finland, underscoring the parliamentary stance on maintaining strict regulations surrounding cannabis use.