In the wake of cannabis legalization in Berlin, the legal landscape is shifting dramatically. Almost a year post-reform, 178 penalties have been handed down for marijuana and hashish violations. This information comes from the public prosecutor’s office, highlighting that 71 of these sentences were subject to reassessment, resulting in one case of prison release. By the March 13 deadline, 249 cases underwent review—catalysed by the newly introduced amnesty provisions for older, pending cases and outstanding sentences.
The law’s amnesty stipulations are particularly impactful for ongoing preliminary proceedings and unserved prison time. They compel a re-evaluation of existing penalties to determine if they are eligible for complete or partial amnesty. In Berlin alone, this review process has touched approximately 5,400 cannabis-related cases as of November 8, 2024, an increase from last year’s tally of over 5,700 reported cases.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, fluctuations in the reported numbers arise from adjustments in data recording. A spokesperson clarified that there is no separately maintained statistic for cases influenced by the amnesty measure. As of early November 2024, the bulk of preliminary reviews had been successfully wrapped up, signalling a significant shift in the approach to cannabis-related offences.
Almost one year after cannabis legalization in Berlin, 178 penalties have been issued for marijuana-related offences. The amnesty provision in the law triggered a review of 5,400 pending cases, with results affecting 249 cases and leading to at least one prison release. Data on these developments is subject to reporting fluctuations as the preliminary checks approach completion.
The recent reassessment of cannabis-related penalties in Berlin marks a crucial turning point in drug law. With nearly 178 penalties issued since legalization, the law’s amnesty provisions have prompted a thorough review of 5,400 cases, leading to meaningful changes, including a notable imprisonment release. As the public prosecutor’s office finalises these procedures, the legal landscape for cannabis in Berlin continues to evolve, reflecting the changing attitudes towards the drug.
Original Source: www.berlin.de
