Overview

• Cannabis-related offenses in Baden-Württemberg dropped by 75% in the nine months following partial legalization in April 2024, yet enforcement complexity has increased significantly.
• Police report heightened administrative burdens, citing difficulties in verifying cannabis origins and enforcing consumption bans in designated zones.
• The Interior Ministry demands a full repeal of the law, while the Justice Ministry seeks revisions to restore investigative tools for combating organized crime.
• Critics, including police unions, argue the law has failed to curb the black market, with illegal trade reportedly thriving and complicating efforts to target dealers.
• The federal government plans an open-ended evaluation of the law in autumn 2025 to assess its effectiveness and address growing concerns.