Drug Offence Lawyer in Nuremberg

Specialised defence in drug cases (BtMG)

German drug law is a specialist field with its own rules – and a particular focus of my work as a certified specialist in criminal law. Even an allegation of simple possession can have serious consequences for your driving licence, residence status and career. Allegations of dealing or importing “not small quantities” carry substantial prison sentences.

Typical allegations

• Unlawful possession and acquisition of narcotics (§ 29 BtMG)
• Dealing (Handeltreiben) – any self-serving effort to promote sales can be sufficient
• Import and export, e.g. across the Czech border
• Cultivation and production
• Offences involving a “not small quantity” (§ 29a BtMG), gang-related or armed offences (§§ 30, 30a BtMG)

Possible penalties

• Basic offence (§ 29 BtMG): fine or imprisonment of up to five years
• Not small quantity (§ 29a BtMG): imprisonment of at least one year
• Gang activity or import of a not small quantity (§ 30 BtMG): at least two years
• Armed dealing (§ 30a BtMG): at least five years

Whether the threshold of a “not small quantity” is exceeded depends on the active-ingredient content, not the weight – which is why I examine forensic reports particularly critically.

Cannabis: the Cannabis Act (KCanG) since April 2024

Since 1 April 2024, cannabis has been regulated by the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG). Adults may possess limited quantities and grow a small number of plants privately. Possession of larger quantities, dealing, supply to minors and import remain criminal offences.

Key defence strategies

• Lawfulness of searches, phone surveillance and evaluation of encrypted messenger data
• Personal use or dealing? This distinction often determines the sentencing range
• Non-prosecution for small quantities (§ 31a BtMG)
• Cooperation with authorities / “crown witness” rule (§ 31 BtMG)
• “Therapy instead of punishment” (§ 35 BtMG) in cases of addiction

Drugs and your driving licence

The driving licence authority may revoke your licence even if you did not drive under the influence. For “hard” drugs, proof of a single use may be enough; a medical-psychological assessment (MPU) is often ordered.

Drug offence defence in Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen and Middle Franconia

Our office is centrally located at Gleißbühlstraße 7, 90402 Nuremberg (Nürnberg), about a five-minute walk from Nuremberg Central Station. We represent clients from Nuremberg and the entire metropolitan region – including Fürth, Erlangen, Schwabach, Zirndorf, Stein, Lauf an der Pegnitz, Hersbruck, Feucht, Roth and Neumarkt – before the local courts, in particular the Nuremberg Local Court (Amtsgericht), the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court (Landgericht) and the Nuremberg Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht).