How to deal with cannabis has been the subject of a heated debate for some years. Both the FDP (Free Democratic Party) and the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) campaigned for its legalisation in the recent parliamentary elections. The controlled dispensing of cannabis for recreational use has in the meantime been included in the coalition agreement. The relevant sentences are set out on page 86 of the coalition agreement:

"We will introduce the controlled dispensing of cannabis to adults for recreational use in licensed stores. This will control the quality, prevent the distribution of contaminated products and ensure that minors are protected. We will assess the Act for its impact on society after four years. We will enable and expand drug-checking models and harm reduction measures."

Legalisation offers a number of advantages. Cultivation, trafficking, and distribution can be controlled by the state, and the quality of cannabis can be monitored. In addition, high tax revenues are expected. Legalisation and decriminalisation should also significantly reduce the burden on the judiciary. The Greens had already presented a bill (Cannabis Control Act) in 2015, which was however rejected in 2018 and then again in 2020, but the signs for legalisation of cannabis for recreational use have changed in the meantime.

One need only to look at other countries to see how cannabis policy has shifted.