In 1994, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that drug addiction and the possession of small quantities of narcotics for personal use were not crimes.
In 2009, the positive results of the study led to heroin-assisted treatment becoming included in mandatory health insurance.
In an international operation that resulted in one arrest, a man from Vlaardingen, Netherlands, German and Belgian authorities seized the largest amount of cocaine in Europe.
After the 2021 German federal election, the new government announced in their coalition agreement that they intend to legalise cannabis for all purposes (including recreational), and legislation to this effect was passed on 23 February 2024.
In March 2023, the health minister, Karl Lauterbach, reported a positive reaction from European Commission on the plan, and intended to bring a bill forward soon.