Majority of Berlin for cannabis model project in Kreuzberg

According to a representative survey by Infratest-Dimap commissioned by the German Hemp Association, 58 percent of Berlin residents are in favor of approving the cannabis model project in Friedrichshain / Kreuzberg.
At the beginning of October, the Federal Institute for Drugs (BfArM) had rejected the district's application for the establishment of cannabis stores at Görlitzer Park. In addition to formal reasons in the rejection notice, it became clear that the project was not politically intended.

Majority for a cannabis project in Kreuzberg. Picture: wollertz - fotolia

"With this attitude, the Ministry of Health not only contradicts the will of the district parliament in Kreuzberg, but also the will of a clear majority of the entire population of Berlin. The result reinforces our call to the federal level to abandon its policy of prevention and to work with the district to develop a model project that can be approved. If necessary, the narcotic law must be changed, "said DHV spokesman Georg Wurth.

This demand is also raised by the well-known criminal law professor Lorenz Böllinger. Böllinger announced, according to a media release in August, that he would draft a bill for a
Submit experiment clause in the BtMG.

Other recent surveys showed that there is still no majority for a comprehensive legalization of cannabis. The Berlin CDU had determined in September an approval rating of 39 percent. This is roughly in line with current values ​​that the DHV had determined by Infratest Dimap at the federal level in November. Here, 42 percent spoke for cannabis shops as in Colorado. That was a remarkable 12 percentage points more than a year ago. CDU and Hanfverband have thus unprecedented record levels of approval for
Cannabis legalization, but not yet a majority.
At the same time, however, the DHV survey in November also found that a majority of 51 percent expect cannabis to be legally available to adults in a few years.

"In the foreseeable future, there will be a majority in Germany for the
Legalization of cannabis and most expect hemp shops in the next few years. It therefore makes sense to test such solutions on a small scale and to scientifically investigate the effects of a legal cannabis trade. I urge the Federal Government to grant such model projects to interested cities
", concludes Georg Wurth.

In addition to Friedrichshain / Kreuzberg, districts in Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt as well as the cities of Bremen, Düsseldorf and Münster have also decided to launch cannabis model projects. (Pm)