Addiction researcher proposes cocaine legalization in Germany

Heino Stöver, an addiction researcher at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, is advocating for the legalization or decriminalization of cocaine in Germany. This proposal comes in response to data from the Federal Institute for Public Health indicating a rise in cocaine consumption, particularly among young people.

Stöver argues for a “humane drug policy” that prioritizes listening to those affected rather than relying on criminal law, which he suggests is ineffective for driving behavioral changes in individuals dependent on psychoactive substances. He cites Portugal as a successful model, noting its long-standing practice of allowing the possession of specific gram limits for various drugs without criminal penalty. He also pointed to an “interesting” model currently utilized in Switzerland.