Hamburg, September 11, 2026 – The Hamburg Senate is advocating for a new approach to hard drug consumption, proposing a federal initiative to enable the transfer of small amounts of illegal drugs for immediate consumption within designated drug consumption rooms. This measure is intended to shift drug use from public areas into controlled facilities, such as the “Drob Inn” near Hamburg’s main train station.
Easing the Burden on Public Spaces
The primary goal of this initiative is to relieve public spaces and enhance the quality of life in densely populated urban districts, including Hamburg-St. Georg, according to the Social Authority. “Other major German cities are also demanding more legal leeway. Hamburg is taking up this debate as a federal state and submitting a concrete proposal to amend federal law,” the Social Authority stated.
Why Current Rules Drive Users to the Streets
Currently, facilities like the “Drob Inn” are strictly prohibited from allowing the sharing of even minimal quantities of illegal drugs among users. For instance, hard drugs like crack can only be consumed individually within the premises. Sharing or distributing drugs to other users is forbidden and can lead to criminal charges. However, because crack users often consume the drug collectively, they frequently avoid supervised consumption rooms, opting instead to use drugs on the streets. This presents a significant challenge in areas like St. Georg.
Drug Dealing Remains Prohibited
With the proposed federal initiative, consumers would be permitted to share small amounts of drugs for immediate consumption within these controlled environments. The Social Authority emphasized that the supervised framework of drug consumption rooms would remain unchanged: consumption would continue under the supervision of staff, and drug dealing would remain illegal and actively prevented by operators.
Zurich as a Model
Social Senator Melanie Schlotzhauer (SPD) commented, “Drug consumption does not belong on the street. If current rules force people to go outside to share the smallest amounts, we must change them.” The Senate cited positive experiences with the sharing of minimal quantities in Zurich, where drug policy has successfully combined consumption rooms with clear regulations for public spaces for many years.
Ongoing Debates and Previous Developments
This initiative comes amidst ongoing discussions about drug policy in Hamburg. Earlier this month, on September 5, 2026, disputes arose over the allocation of assistance services in Hamburg, following the planned closure of the “Palette” addiction aid facility in Altona. On September 3, 2026, it was reported that two facilities in the Altona district, “Palette” and the “Malteser Nordlicht” residential accommodation in Bahrenfeld, were slated for closure.
Furthermore, on July 3, 2026, the CDU presented a ten-point plan to combat the drug scene in St. Georg, advocating for a combination of increased law enforcement and expanded support services to address the situation around the Hamburg main station.
The Hamburg Senate’s proposal reflects a growing recognition that current regulations may inadvertently exacerbate public drug use and that a more pragmatic approach is needed to manage the issue effectively while prioritizing public health and safety.
Source: ndr
