German drug czar pushes for uniform cannabis laws
December 17, 2019
Germany's drug commissioner on Tuesday called for a nationwide standard for the amount of cannabis allowed for personal possession.
Daniela Ludwig told the Funke Media Group that it is "difficult" when each German state has different regulations.
Read more: 5 facts about cannabis laws in Germany
Cannabis is illegal in Germany, but punishment for private consumption is relatively minor. A person in possession of only "a small amount" of the drug can, according to the law, avoid prosecution.
In Hamburg, a small amount is six grams, while in Berlin 15 grams are allowed.
"This naturally attracts people to the city who want to use drugs," said Ludwig, referring to the capital. But "cannabis tourism" was not the kind of tourism that "Berlin had envisaged," she added.
Read more: Angela Merkel's party mulls legalizing cannabis in Germany
Ludwig recently visited Berlin's Görlitzer Park, which is notorious for drug dealing.
A member of the CSU — the Bavarian sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU — Ludwig has been in her current role for three months and has expressed a desire to soften Germany's stance on cannabis.
cw/rt (dpa, KNA)
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