lawyer

In 1981, German lawmakers passed the Narcotics Act in an attempt to crack down on a growing drug problem in the country. Primarily, the law--which has been amended several times--had the main intention of protecting the health of the public. The law includes clauses on rehabilitating drug users outside of prison, permission to use methadone in clinic settings, and allowing for sterile needle exchange programs for intravenous drug users.

Where marijuana is concerned, the law's main effect was in allowing prosecutors the discretion to choose to not prosecute cases that the prosecutor deems minor enough.

Acquiring drugs is a crime in Germany, and those found guilty are sentenced to 1 month to 4 years in prison and must pay an appropriate fine. The amount of the fine is not set and is decided by individual judges for each case, who weigh in factors such as how much a person was caught with. Sentences are typically more lax in the less conservative states of northern Germany. And, as previously mentioned, marijuana is not a high priority for German police or prosecutors. Marijuana cases that do go to trial usually involve drug trafficking and large quantities of the drug.