Since the partial release, crimes related to cannabis in Berlin have fallen by two thirds.

While the hunt for young stoners continues undeterred in Bavaria, people are taking things easy in Germany’s stoner capital. In contrast to their Bavarian colleagues, the Berlin police largely adhere to the cannabis consumption law and primarily take action against those who do things a little too colorfully.

In Berlin there is a certain peaceful coexistence between the law enforcement authorities and the weed-smoking population, which is clearly reflected in the police figures.

According to this, the Berlin police database only recorded 1,685 crimes under the cannabis law between the beginning of April and the end of October, including unauthorized trafficking or unauthorized possession. In addition, 81 administrative offenses were recorded, including violations of the cannabis consumption ban in front of daycare centers and schools. This emerges from the response of the Berlin health administration to a written question from Green MP Vasili Franco.

In contrast, there are police figures for the same period in 2023, when Germany was still shooting sparrows with cannons because of the hemp ban. With 5,315 registered crimes, three times more small stoners were caught and punished.

“Contrary to all the scaremongering, the cannabis law is showing initial successes after just a few months,” said Green politician Franco, pointing out that 80 percent of cannabis-related crimes before April 1, 2023 were consumer crimes. “Decriminalization should mean that cannabis users are no longer unnecessarily persecuted, criminalized and stigmatized.” In the long term, they will disappear completely and thus relieve the burden on the police and the judiciary.”

Similar posts