Berlin Sees 70% Drop in Cannabis-Related Crime After Legalization

The legalization of cannabis in Germany, introduced at the beginning of 2024, is already having visible effects.

Berlin, one of the most progressive regions in the country, has seen a significant drop in cannabis-related crimes. Data collected by the police shows how the changes in the law have affected the situation in the German capital and how it contrasts with other regions such as Bavaria.

The statistics speak for themselves

From April to October 2024, 1,685 cannabis-related crimes were recorded in Berlin. Compared to the same period in 2023, when 5,315 such cases were registered, this is a decrease of almost 70%. The reduction mainly concerns possession of cannabis for personal use, which previously accounted for around 80% of all reported crimes. In 2024, only 81 administrative violations, such as consumption in prohibited places, were recorded.

“These results show that decriminalizing cannabis for personal use brings real benefits. Consumers are less stigmatized and the police can focus on more serious crimes,” emphasizes Vasili Franco, a Green MP. He believes these changes are proof of the effectiveness of the new law.

Berlin and Bavaria – two worlds

While Berlin celebrates its success, the situation in Bavaria is completely different. Between April and June 2024, Bavarian police registered 4,561 cannabis-related offences. Of these, 1,430 were for possession of quantities exceeding the legal limit, and almost 3,000 for driving under the influence of marijuana.

Bavaria, known for its more conservative approach to legalization, has been a vocal critic of the new law. The region’s interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, has called legalization “a serious mistake in public health and safety policy.” He said the law change would increase crime, not reduce it.

Political debate on legalization

The legalization of cannabis in Germany has not been without controversy. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has vowed to withdraw the law if his party takes power. Merz has called the legalization “a grave mistake and a sin against our children.” Critics, such as police officer Alexander Poitz, say the new law could lead to the growth of organized crime rather than curb it.

But proponents of legalization point to early successes in Berlin as evidence of the positive impact of the changes. “We need to give these laws time to fully show their effects,” Franco says in response to opposition criticism.

What’s next for legalization in Germany?

Berlin’s success shows that legalization can lead to a significant drop in crime and a reduction in the burden on law enforcement. However, the situation in other regions, such as Bavaria, highlights the challenges of uneven implementation of new regulations.

Will legalization become a permanent fixture in German politics, or will it be rolled back under pressure from conservative parties? We don’t know yet, but early results from Berlin suggest that the changes could be beneficial for both society and law enforcement. It’s worth following developments to see what lessons other countries can learn from the German experiment.

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(Featured image by Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels)

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First published in FaktyKonopne. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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