Berlin has a reputation as a place where weird people, marginalized artists and subcultural hangouts from all over Europe flock. And its drug policy is more liberal than in other parts of Germany.
The BB team takes a look at how the authorities, drug users, activists and street dealers interact in one of Europe's largest cities.
When talking about drug policy in other countries, the first thing that comes to mind is news about legislation and details of high-profile police operations, while the real life of drug users and distributors of psychoactive substances remains behind the scenes.
Not much is known about the state's attitude towards them — about the actual practice of law enforcement in the field of drug policy, which often turns out to be much more liberal than formal laws.
The BB team takes a look at how the authorities, drug users, activists and street dealers interact in one of Europe's largest cities.
When talking about drug policy in other countries, the first thing that comes to mind is news about legislation and details of high-profile police operations, while the real life of drug users and distributors of psychoactive substances remains behind the scenes.
Not much is known about the state's attitude towards them — about the actual practice of law enforcement in the field of drug policy, which often turns out to be much more liberal than formal laws.
For example, in the U.S., there are formal mechanisms that result in liberal enforcement — for example, from 2003 to 2012, 15 cities in the country passed laws requiring local police to treat marijuana possession as a last-ditch offense.
In Germany, the situation is similar: despite the formal criminalization of psychoactive substances, police attitudes towards users and distributors vary considerably across the country. Antonia Bendau, MD, a specialist in recreational drug research from the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Charité Clinic in Berlin, spoke to the BB team about substances on the streets of Berlin.
When we talk about Germany, as well as about any other European country, we immediately think of the stereotypes that make up its image. The topic of drugs in Germany has also acquired certain stereotypes.
In Germany, the situation is similar: despite the formal criminalization of psychoactive substances, police attitudes towards users and distributors vary considerably across the country. Antonia Bendau, MD, a specialist in recreational drug research from the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Charité Clinic in Berlin, spoke to the BB team about substances on the streets of Berlin.
When we talk about Germany, as well as about any other European country, we immediately think of the stereotypes that make up its image. The topic of drugs in Germany has also acquired certain stereotypes.
The industrial boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries gave Germany the chemical industry and the Bayer Group, and the world Heroin (this was the brand name of a cough medicine that was sold in local pharmacies until 1971).
Historians will probably also recall Pervitin, which played a role in Germany's victory over France at the beginning of World War II. France's defeat was foreshadowed by the Ardennes offensive in May 1940.
The Wehrmacht for a couple of days overcame about 200 kilometers of mountainous, forested terrain and hit the rear of the French army — the main engine of this offensive was pervitin.
Such stories are reminiscent of the traditional German order. It seems that even mind-altering substances are industrially produced in Germany and administered with army discipline. Such is the myth.
One day some community in Berlin did a mapping of the main places where substances are sold — they turned out to be linked to subway lines. Some branches are traditionally «heroin». That's where dealers and junkies meet to make their «Geschäft» and disperse. It's also where some patients in substitution treatment programs break program rules and sell some of their medications.
The place, located at the intersection of several subway lines (the main meeting place for most people who use psychoactive substances), has turned into a kind of drug market.
First aid is also available there: a mobile needle and syringe exchange point is regularly stationed there, and a safe consumption room is also located nearby.
In one of the big parks you can always meet dealers. The place differs from others in that it is held by Africans, although Arabs have still taken away a small area at the entrance.
Recently an amusing incident occurred: the park administration, realizing that it can do nothing with dealers, decided to allocate them certain areas. The employees drew lines on the asphalt, creating islands of trade. Naturally, the idea did not work, and the islands were then happily photographed by bloggers.
The place, located at the intersection of several subway lines (the main meeting place for most people who use psychoactive substances), has turned into a kind of drug market.
First aid is also available there: a mobile needle and syringe exchange point is regularly stationed there, and a safe consumption room is also located nearby.
In one of the big parks you can always meet dealers. The place differs from others in that it is held by Africans, although Arabs have still taken away a small area at the entrance.
Recently an amusing incident occurred: the park administration, realizing that it can do nothing with dealers, decided to allocate them certain areas. The employees drew lines on the asphalt, creating islands of trade. Naturally, the idea did not work, and the islands were then happily photographed by bloggers.
However, the quality of «street» substances is poor: and harm reduction-conscious consumers tend to avoid using public vendors.
What is actually happening in Germany's current drug policy?
How does society view substances and the people who use them?
How does society view substances and the people who use them?
The German capital combined the socialist experience of the GDR and the spirit of freedom of West Berlin, welcomed waves of migrants from all over the world and mixed it all into a special cocktail. Berlin is the drug capital of Germany. Of its 139,000 inhabitants — almost 4% of the city's population — regularly use psychoactive substances.
How do the authorities react? Berlin is allowed a little more than other states, and the local police are much more tolerant of people who use drugs than their counterparts.
In 2017, during the G20 summit in Hamburg, reinforcements in the form of a police squad were sent from Berlin — and the Berlin cops showed themselves by throwing a party with alcohol and dancing on the tables. They had so much fun that they had to be sent back.
The Federal Republic of Germany is divided into states and each state has its own attitude towards psychoactive substances. Federal laws are binding throughout the country, but their interpretation varies from region to region.
For example, the permissible amount of marijuana varies from state to state: in Berlin it is usually 15 grams, in other states — 3-5 grams. The sale of illegal substances is punishable, although the sentence depends largely on how the court views the circumstances of a particular case.
In 2017, during the G20 summit in Hamburg, reinforcements in the form of a police squad were sent from Berlin — and the Berlin cops showed themselves by throwing a party with alcohol and dancing on the tables. They had so much fun that they had to be sent back.
The Federal Republic of Germany is divided into states and each state has its own attitude towards psychoactive substances. Federal laws are binding throughout the country, but their interpretation varies from region to region.
For example, the permissible amount of marijuana varies from state to state: in Berlin it is usually 15 grams, in other states — 3-5 grams. The sale of illegal substances is punishable, although the sentence depends largely on how the court views the circumstances of a particular case.
Personal observation:
«I remember my first Hanfparade («Hemp March»). The participants started gathering at Washingtonplatz a couple of hours before the start. At the same time, the police arrived and started setting up fences. Participants smoked in the face of the police. I waited. All my life experience told me that a detention was coming. I wondered whether everyone would be tied up or just a couple of junkies. But the policemen just looked away and talked about their own things with their colleagues».
The police do not behave this way in all German states.
For example, Bavaria is the antithesis of Berlin. Like the last bastion of German order, it stands on conservative positions. You can get a couple months in jail there for smoking marijuana on the street, let alone heavier substances.
The police occasionally arrest street dealers, but do so most often because of complaints from nearby residents. At other times, it is more convenient for the cops to keep the drug scene under surveillance without mass harassment.
Police are targeting key players in the illegal business for arrest. Recently, Ibrahim Miri, the leader of the Miri family, a large Lebanese clan of Arabs and Kurds who have long been based in Germany and are involved in, among other things, the trafficking of psychoactive substances, was deported.
Another success was the shutdown of a server that served many darknet stores in Germany and Europe. It was located in a bunker left over from the Cold War and was well protected from outside intrusion. Apprehending the owners of the server was far more useful to the police than raiding ordinary dealers.
Germany, like the rest of Western Europe, is moving towards decriminalization of psychoactive substances. Politicians from the Die Linke party are coming out to the Hanfparade, and Bundestag members are meeting with representatives of drug-using communities.
The first of such associations, the JES community, recently turned 30 years old.
Another success was the shutdown of a server that served many darknet stores in Germany and Europe. It was located in a bunker left over from the Cold War and was well protected from outside intrusion. Apprehending the owners of the server was far more useful to the police than raiding ordinary dealers.
Germany, like the rest of Western Europe, is moving towards decriminalization of psychoactive substances. Politicians from the Die Linke party are coming out to the Hanfparade, and Bundestag members are meeting with representatives of drug-using communities.
The first of such associations, the JES community, recently turned 30 years old.
Policy makers realize that openness and regulation of the psychoactive substances market will benefit all participants. The state will get taxes, society will get clear rules and the ability to influence the process, and consumers will get quality and safety.