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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Deborah Cole in Berlin

High times or low blows? Experts fail to clear air over German drug legalisation

Close-up of person smoking a joint
Consumption from legal sources is gradually increasing, say researchers, thus ‘slowly squeezing out’ the underworld trade. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images

It was a landmark piece of legislation passed by Germany’s previous, centre-left-led government: a measure that legalised the personal recreational use of cannabis for over-18s despite warnings from critics it would cause a steep rise in the drug’s use, including by teenagers, and boost criminal gangs.

Two years on, controversy over the move has still not been stubbed out, with critics and proponents at odds over its impact on consumption, youth welfare and organised crime.

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