Since April, cannabis has been partially legalized in Germany. However, Friedrich Merz promises that this will change quickly after the federal elections next year. Friedrich Merz has announced plans to reverse the cannabis law enacted by the current government if his party takes power. This would be one of the first actions of the CDU should they emerge victorious in the 2025 federal elections, Merz told “Welt am Sonntag.”
Fear of lack of control
“The legalization of cannabis is currently leading to an explosion in drug-related crime and organized criminal activity, including gang wars that we can barely imagine,” Merz claimed.
The CDU leader referenced an alleged gang war in North Rhine-Westphalia. Police are investigating the connection between a hostage-taking incident in Cologne and several explosions in the region. The conflict reportedly centers around 300 kilograms of missing cannabis and involves German and Dutch drug gangs, according to Oliver Huth, state chairman of the German Criminal Investigation Association in North Rhine-Westphalia, in an interview with “FAZ.” “The Dutch, who have tolerated cannabis consumption for years, are shocked by what is happening in Germany right now,” Merz told “Welt am Sonntag.” “Therefore, as in other areas, quick action is required after a government change.”
No legal cultivation
The CDU party chairman sees a clear connection between partial legalization and gang crime. He claims that this was foreseeable when legal cultivation has not yet started, but the possession of large quantities was already legalized. The cannabis law of the coalition government came into effect on April 1st. It allows possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis in private (25 grams in public) and the cultivation of three plants per person. Since July 1st, up to 500 adults can form cannabis clubs and organize communal cultivation. However, this is currently only theoretical. In practice, it is still impossible for many new cannabis clubs to plant hemp. This largely depends on the federal states.
In Berlin, for example, 14 applications for the establishment of cannabis cultivation communities have been submitted, according to the news agency dpa. However, these applications are not being processed because a corresponding regulation is missing. According to a spokesperson for the Pankow district office, the district regulatory offices have agreed to accept applications but not to process them due to a lack of sufficient regulatory guidelines. Those wishing to legally grow cannabis in Bavaria must also wait. For approval, operators must demonstrate that they are sufficiently trained in counseling and prevention, said a spokesperson for the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL). Appropriate training in Bavaria by the Center for Prevention and Health Promotion is not planned until September.
The same issue affects the six clubs in Saarland, whose approval is still pending due to a lack of training. The responsible state ministry is waiting for the federal government to create a curriculum for the training of prevention officers, which is expected to happen in August, according to the “Saarbrücker Zeitung.” It’s different in Lower Saxony. The first cannabis club received approval on July 8th. Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte (Green Party) personally handed over the permit to the “Cannabis Social Club” in Ganderkesee.