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Virologist Hendrik Streeck named Germany’s Federal Narcotics Commissioner

He will oversee the coalition-mandated autumn review of Germany’s cannabis legalization framework despite his public opposition to the reform.

Overview

  • On May 28, the cabinet officially appointed Hendrik Streeck as the Federal Government Commissioner for Narcotics.
  • Streeck won a direct mandate in Bonn with a nine-point lead for the CDU in the 2025 Bundestag election.
  • He rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic as a member of the Corona Experts’ Council under Health Minister Jens Spahn.
  • His scientific career includes research posts at Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins and leadership of virology institutes at the universities of Duisburg-Essen and Bonn.
  • Charged with evaluating the 2024 cannabis legalization law this autumn, he maintains that legalizing cannabis would harm society.