In a former hotel in Mettmann, investigators have discovered an illegal cannabis plantation with hundreds of plants - valued in the millions.

In the rooms of the 300 square meter building, almost all rooms and the bowling alley in the basement had been converted into a plantation, as the police announced.

The officials arrested two men aged 31 and 20 on Friday and seized 1,500 plants.

“Unfamiliar activities” in the former hotel had caught the police's attention the days before.

Finally, a search warrant was implemented on Friday.

In the building, the police met the two men who, according to current knowledge, do not live in Germany.

According to initial estimates by the State Office of Criminal Investigation, the yield from the plantation is likely to have brought up to two million euros a year as “street sales value”, as it was said.

Doctors warn against legalization

The debate over the legalization of cannabis continues.

Doctors recently warned again about the possible risks of cannabis legalization.

Experience from other countries indicated increased consumption, more emergency admissions and an increasing need for psychiatric treatment, explained experts at the 125th German Doctors' Conference on Wednesday in Berlin.

Even more suicides and fatal traffic accidents are to be expected after clearance.

On the other hand, it is only possible to dry up the black market to a limited extent, it continues.

This is shown by a look at Canada, where adults have been able to buy cannabis in licensed shops since 2018.

Nevertheless, consumers continued to cover around 35 percent of their needs from illegal sources.

Younger consumer groups in particular switched to cheaper black market products.

Criminal offense should be changed

In a further motion, the medical profession demanded that the possession of narcotic drugs in small quantities be downgraded from a criminal offense to an administrative offense.

Young people, first-time and occasional users should not be forced into illegality, so the reasoning.

"Those affected should be given the opportunity to seek advice at an early stage and, if necessary, promptly to seek treatment for addiction therapy."

An expert commission should develop proposals for suitable counseling and therapy chains as well as an appropriate catalog of sanctions.

In addition, the future federal government should develop a prevention program for young people with the participation of the responsible scientific societies and anchor it in law.

Dealing with larger quantities beyond one's own use as well as trafficking and inciting children and young people to consume drugs should, however, continue to be prosecuted as a criminal offense under the law.

In addition, the German Medical Association called on the federal government to set up a research program on possible indications, effects and side effects of the medical use of cannabis.

Due to the inadequate state of studies, this is urgently needed to give doctors more security when prescribing and patients when taking appropriate medication.