Drug deal in Pirmasens: 26-year-old sentenced to suspended sentence!

Drug deal in Pirmasens: 26-year-old sentenced to suspended sentence!

Today we report on a sensational ruling that sheds light on the legal framework for cannabis sales. A 26-year-old man from Pirmasens was sentenced to a suspended sentence of ten months by the district court. He was accused of trafficking cannabis on 23 occasions between 2023 and 2024, selling between one and five grams each. In total, his sales activity brought in proceeds of 670 euros Rhine Palatinate reported.

The defendant did not comment on himself or the facts of the case during the proceedings, which made the hearing no less informative. These offenses come at a time when the legal framework for cannabis in Germany is changing due to the new Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG). This law, which has been in force since October 29, 2024, creates a new distinction between what is permitted and what is not permitted. Although the KCanG provides for a lower penalty for minor offenses, unauthorized trading remains punishable Lawyer Lott explained.

The legal consequences of the BGH decision

An important decision by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) states that the KCanG is only applicable if it is more advantageous for the defendant. This leaves room for a case-by-case assessment where penalties may vary depending on the circumstances. The penalty range for simple trafficking provides for up to three years' imprisonment or fines, while for particularly serious cases of commercial or gang-related trading, higher penalties of two to 15 years can be imposed.

Statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office, published on April 2, 2025, show a 30% decline in proceedings for illegal cannabis trafficking. This positive development could be partly due to the new law, which has both created a legal market and reduced the black market share from 100% to 40%. A solid prerequisite for getting drug crime under control in the future, like Statista determines.

Another noteworthy detail is that 65% of the proceedings for unlawful trading in these cases end with a dismissal or a warning with reservation of punishment. This shows that the judiciary is taking an increasingly differentiated approach and in many cases does not necessarily resort to harsh punishment.

Although the Consumer Cannabis Act was passed, the distinction between legal and illegal trade remains complicated. The licensing requirements and strict safety standards in legal distribution make it clear that caution is still required. In the current case, the court correctly recognized that the 26-year-old's trading activities were clearly illegal, which is why the suspended sentence was felt to be justified.

The development of the legal situation surrounding cannabis will continue to be monitored closely. The 26-year-old's case provides interesting insights into the interaction between current laws and the real effects on people's behavior.