Angela Merkel's party considers legalizing cannabis in Germany

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is openly considering a decisive shift in the party’s stance toward the cannabis legalization.

«Cannabis could be legalized for personal use, of course through controlled production and distribution,» he said declared Marian Wendt, the CDU's spokesperson on domestic policy. «The resources freed up by the police and the judiciary should be used to combat illegal trade.»

The German government’s drug commissioner, Daniela Ludwig, had also announced earlier this week that the conservative party would adopt a new, more liberal drug policy. «We need to stop debating whether certain approaches are right or wrong, because we’ll never make any progress that way.»

Instead, Daniela Ludwig suggests that drug policy should focus on practical considerations. «Ultimately, what is the best way to protect people’s health—especially that of young people—and what approach makes the most sense given the situation in this country?»

Daniela Ludwig also said that the party had been «considering» legalization «for years.» «Of course, you don’t get addicted after trying it just once,» she added. «That’s exactly why we’ve been looking at different proposals for controlled distribution.»

Change in tone

This statement, while fairly cautious, reflects a definite shift in tone compared to that of former CDU leaders. Marlene Mortler, the German government’s former drug commissioner, stated last year in a press release, for example: «The ongoing debate on legalization is heading in the wrong direction. It suggests to young people in particular that cannabis is not a dangerous substance—which is simply not true!«.

Cannabis is legal only for a medical use in Germany. Depending on the state, cannabis is decriminalized to varying degrees. Generally, no charges are filed for possession of less than 6 grams. Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia are fairly flexible regarding this limit. When driving, the The presence of THC no longer necessarily leads to prosecution.

Angela Merkel’s party is the last of Germany’s major political parties to maintain a strictly prohibitionist approach to drugs, in contrast to the legalization policies advocated by the Social Democrats, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and the Left Party.