Hemp Parade in Berlin: Calls for further cannabis legalization

Protesters gathered in Berlin for the annual Hemp Parade, calling for a more comprehensive legalization of cannabis under the motto "Just! Healthy! Enjoy!". Approximately 200 people, according to initial police reports, convened at Alexanderplatz for the demonstration, with organizers anticipating up to 4,000 attendees.

The parade proceeded from Alexanderplatz along the Unter den Linden boulevard towards the government district. Participants carried banners with messages such as "Cannabis is Medicine," "I am High," and "Berlin in a Haze." The planned route included passing by the Ministry of Health and the office of the federal government's drug commissioner, Hendrik Streeck.

The Hemp Parade has been a yearly event in Berlin since 1997. Its organizers advocate for a shift in drug policy, moving away from ideology-driven approaches towards one based on reason. They argue that the current legal framework, which partially legalized cannabis in April 2024, does not go far enough. This partial legalization, implemented by the then-ruling coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP, permits the cultivation and possession of cannabis within limited scope for adults under specific regulations.