Köln's Mayor Advocates for Drug Trade in Small Quantities

08.08.2026 – 01:00

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger

Köln. (ots)

Torsten Burmester, the Mayor of Cologne, is pushing for the legalization of small-scale drug trade within a proposed addiction support center in the city. In an interview with the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger," the SPD politician announced a renewed effort to address this issue. "I expect that we will find solutions together regarding micro-trade, the exploration of crack consumption, substitute substances, and counseling," Burmester stated. "For all this, we need the option of experimental clauses in municipalities."

Burmester expressed disappointment over the state government's dismissal of an initial proposal from Cologne and Düsseldorf. "Mayor Keller from Düsseldorf and I wrote to the state government, and unfortunately received a disheartening response from Ministers Reul and Laumann: Everything is not possible!" he reported.

The groundwork for the planned addiction support center has now been laid. "This will bring drug addicts off the streets and into a supervised facility," he emphasized. However, details still need to be clarified, particularly concerning the micro-trade of drugs.

In light of aggressive, organized begging in public spaces, Burmester announced a review of existing measures to potentially tighten regulations. He explained, "There are rules against organized and aggressive begging, and there is a return management system in place. We are in communication with cities like Gelsenkirchen and Hamm to see if we can adjust our measures."

The Interview in Full: www.ksta.de/1343506

The Cited Passage:

When addressing the darker aspects of the city, Burmester emphasized the importance of establishing an addiction support center. "This will help bring drug addicts off the streets into a supervised facility. We have established the conditions for this. Detail questions still need to be clarified, including how micro-trade of drugs could be permitted to help addicts escape criminality. Mayor Stephan Keller from Düsseldorf and I reached out to the state government, and regrettably received a discouraging reply from Ministers Herbert Reul and Karl-Josef Laumann: It’s simply not possible!"

And what comes next?

"I expect that we will find solutions together regarding micro-trade, the exploration of crack consumption, substitute substances, and counseling. For all of this, we need the ability to implement experimental clauses in municipalities."

Is homelessness in Cologne on the rise, or is it just an impression?

Many people feel that the public space has changed. I take this very seriously, as I too have noticed that the condition of many people living on the streets has deteriorated in recent years. This particularly affects those who are also struggling with addiction. Additionally, there is the issue of organized and aggressive begging, which many perceive to have increased.

Is the city powerless in this regard? A whole family of beggars lives on Zeughausstraße...

"We have regulations against organized and aggressive begging. We also have a return management system. The spirit of freedom of movement in the EU is fundamentally tied to an intention to earn. Social fraud cannot be tolerated. We are in discussions with cities like Gelsenkirchen and Hamm to see if we can adjust our measures."

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