Overview

• Germany's partial cannabis legalization, enacted in April 2024, has led to a 34.2% reduction in drug-related offenses, with cases dropping to 228,104.
• The overall crime rate in Germany decreased by 1.7%, largely due to fewer cannabis-related offenses, according to the latest Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik (PKS) data.
• Despite the decline in cannabis-related crimes, the illegal drug market remains robust, with significant increases in cases involving cocaine, crack, LSD, and new psychoactive substances (NPS).
• Authorities attribute the rise in cocaine and crack cases to increased production in South America and efficient smuggling networks into Europe, with Germany seizing a record 43 tons of cocaine in 2023.
• Political divisions over cannabis policy persist, with the CDU advocating for repeal and the SPD defending the law as a step toward decriminalization and destigmatization, while acknowledging areas for improvement.