Germany: 63% of the population against the legalization of cannabis

According to a recent survey from the Forsa polling institute, 63% of Germans are against the legalization of cannabis. 1/3 thought that adults in the country should be able to access cannabis for recreational use in certain stores.

Cannabis is illegal in Germany, despite decriminalization of between 5 and 15 grams, depending on the Länder, and legalization of medical use. Cannabis is prescribed by doctors and available in pharmacies for a wide range of conditions, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer and pain.

Historically, the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens have been in favor of legalizing cannabis, while the CDU and CSU parties have always been against it. With the formation of the new government, the Jamaica coalition might be led to include it in its program, but it's certainly not a priority.

The survey questioned 1,000 people. Certain groups were overwhelmingly opposed to legalization: women (70%), the over-60s (72%) and supporters of the CDU and SPD (72%). Just over half of men were also against.

Support for legalization is particularly strong among the under-30s (43%), Left Party supporters (55%), Greens (46%) and AfD (41%).

Another survey conducted by Infratest for the German Hemp Association (Hanfverband) and released yesterday also confirms the rejection of a legal cannabis trade at 58%, but leaned towards decriminalizing consumption, with 52% of respondents believing that «possession of small quantities of cannabis for self-consumption should no longer be prosecuted». In 2016, the German justice system handled 140,000 criminal cases relating to the possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use, a «new record» in the words of the Hanfverband.

The latest survey in France indicated that 52% of the population were in favor of state regulation of cannabis.