Half a century of restrictive drug policies across Europe has not helped to significantly stifle demand or slash supply.
Despite all the bans and crackdowns, EMCDDA figures suggest that nearly 30% of all adult Europeans will try smoking cannabis as a joint or with a pipe at least once in their lives.
The discussion has been fueled by one key trend: In more than a quarter of all US states, adults are now permitted to buy quantities of their favorite narcotic — legally.
But the Green party and the FDP, the Left Party, and the Social Democrats all agree that present drug strategies based on prohibition are a failure.
Wieland Schinnenburg, the FDP’s parliamentary group spokesman on drug and addiction policy, told DW that there are an estimated 4 million regular cannabis users in Germany.
The idea is to dry out the black market, provide better protection for youngsters, remove some of the burdens from the shoulders of police and the legal system, and bring in tax revenue that could be used for prevention and treatment.
What happens is: harmless consumers are criminalized — often with devastating consequences for their workplace, a training position, or in their circle of friends and relatives.
Not to forget the perils of the black market and the uncontrolled products that are sold there.
Heino Stöver dismisses any prospect of a drug-free, abstinent society as mere fiction: “And the majority of people in society don’t share in that vision in the first place,” says Stöver, pointing to the pleasure principle that is central to drug consumption.
While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society, with an eye toward understanding this year’s elections and beyond.