Germany: Cannabis legalization possible after the next elections

The German elections in September will be closely watched. Depending on the composition of the new Bundestag, the Federal Parliament, cannabis could well be legalized. At least that's the opinion of the prestigious daily Die Welt. The German equivalent of our Figaro doesn't beat about the bush: « Germany closer than ever to legalizing cannabis. » This would send a very strong signal to Europe's leading power and the world's fourth largest. A decision that could also involve France, given the close links between the Franco-German couple.

To get coffee shops in the streets of Berlin, Munich or Frankfurt, several conditions would have to be met. That's the beauty of this parliamentary republic, where programs are made and unmade according to coalitions. In France, the party that wins the presidential election (almost) automatically wins the legislative elections. But not so in Germany. Depending on the outcome of the vote, a coalition is formed and a government is formed. Currently, Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU, center-right) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD, center-left) govern. And a coalition means bargaining.

The CDU has always been against legalization. In particular, the party points to the health risks involved. But its partner, the SPD, is becoming increasingly pro-cannabis. «The party's platform for the election is not yet definitive, but as it stands, it includes a realignment of drug policy and in particular the issue of cannabis legalization.», says Dirk Heidenblut, rapporteur for the SPD group in the German parliament. Bundestag, in the columns of Die Welt.

The Conservative party «isolates itself with its ban».»

Consequence: if it wants to keep the chancellery, the dam could fall. The CDU could abandon its opposition to legalization in order to satisfy its coalition partner. For the moment, polls have the CDU tied with the Greens, on 25 % each. Next in line is the SPD, with 15 %, then the Liberals and the far right, each at 10 %.

And among the major parties, «CDU isolates itself with cannabis ban».», continues the journalist Mandoline Rutkowski. Indeed, in addition to the SPD, the Greens have long been in favor of legalization. And the Green Party is becoming increasingly powerful in Germany. It even governs in some Länder as in Baden-Württemberg, the state of Stuttgart, where it has joined forces with the conservative CDU. An alliance that could provide ideas for a future federal coalition after the September elections.

For the time being, Germany's cannabis legislation remains rather flexible. First of all, the substance is available to patients since 2016. On the recreational side, German courts have not penalized small quantities of cannabis since 1992 (!).

In Baden-Württemberg, for example, it is possible to walk around with six grams of flowers without risking arrest. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the rate rises to ten grams. In Berlin, it's even possible to possess up to fifteen grams of cannabis per adult. At federal level, the German Supreme Court sets the limit at 7.5 grams. Despite these authorizations, cannabis remains a category 3 drug, trafficking in which can result in a fine of 25,000 euros and two years' imprisonment.