Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul does not believe in the plans of the traffic light coalition to release cannabis. "The basic mood among the population will be: 'It's legalized, it's not bad,'" the CDU politician told NRW local radio stations on Thursday. "I think that's a mistake."
"No matter where you look, everyone says: 'This is irresponsible because it is harmful to health,'" said the minister, referring to the statements made by doctors. "Everyone knows that young people have special problems with it." For example, the German Medical Association or the professional association of paediatricians reject the legalization plans. "I've never understood how drug use should lead to more health and youth protection," said Reul. "It's kind of absurd what's going on there, so I have zero sympathy for it."
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) hopes that a controlled levy will improve youth protection, and the black market will also be dried up. Reul said: "Sounds logical, but in reality it doesn't work." There will not be less but more criminal activity, said the interior minister, referring to the Netherlands, where removing the taboo on drug use has led to more crime on the streets.
The Netherlands are "today the paradise of drug trafficking and organized crime", there the black market rages, up to "murder and manslaughter". At first glance, legalization would save the police time and work, "because you no longer have to follow every little dealer," he said. But then he trades with a different number of grams.
