The increasing public consumption of crack drugs is presenting new and complex challenges for Germany’s drug policy. In response, the mayors of Cologne and Dortmund have proposed legalizing the passing on of substances within established drug consumption rooms.
This proposal has received support from Federal Government Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck (CDU). Speaking to “Der Spiegel”, Streeck argued that the situation surrounding severe addiction in major cities cannot be solved solely through police action. He emphasized that addiction is a medical condition requiring assistance and support, not just repression. Furthermore, he highlighted the Swiss model as a potential path forward for Germany, suggesting that systems like those in Zurich could succeed if street-level addiction support and outreach work were massively expanded. However, Streeck cautioned that merely tolerating micro-trafficking without implementing additional measures would lead to a breakdown of the rule of law, safety, and public trust.
Former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also endorsed the approach, stating, “This path is controversial, but the correct one.” According to Lauterbach, crack dependence poses a greater danger than heroin addiction. While maintaining that both consumption and trade must remain forbidden, he argued that the focus should be on regulating the unavoidable micro-trafficking to minimize harm to the general public.
