A clear majority of Germans now support cannabis legalization

A recent Ipsos poll shows that more than half of the Germans Now Support the Legalization of Cannabis. 61% of those surveyed said they would support the controlled distribution of cannabis in licensed stores. Only 39 % consider cannabis legalization proposals to be irresponsible and oppose legal sales and consumption on principle.

In the coalition agreement, the current federal government agreed to introduce, by 2025, a regulated distribution system for cannabis to adults for personal use at authorized retail locations. The latest Revelations from the German Health Minister In fact, they are planning a more ambitious timeline, with the bill set to be introduced by the end of the year and sales set to begin in early 2024 at the earliest.

Young people are clearly in favor of legalization, while older people are divided

Although a majority of Germans support the legalization of cannabis across all generations, significant differences emerge among the various age groups. While two-thirds of 18- to 39-year-olds (65%) support legalization, only slightly more than half (55%) of those aged 60 to 75 do so. Among middle-aged respondents (ages 40–59), the percentage of those in favor of the bill is certainly much higher than among older respondents (62%), but it is lower than that of younger respondents.

The legalization of other drugs faces public opposition

So while a majority of Germans would therefore in favor of the controlled distribution of cannabis, further legalization of other drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines is strongly opposed by a large portion of the population (95%).

However, there are also clear differences among the various age groups on this issue: Among young people under 39, at least one in ten (11%) would support the decriminalization of recreational drugs. Among middle-aged adults, this proportion drops to 4 %, and among those over 60, it is even lower than 1%.