The legislation consists of the basic drug law and three appendices concerning drug importation, sale, and prescription. The development of the reorganized law is explained in terms of its goals and objectives and the legislative considerations involved in its formulation. Explication of key paragraphs discusses the legal definitions of controlled drugs, the specifications for legitimate drug dealing, law enforcement measures, drug offenses, and addicted criminal offenders. The law has placed renewed emphasis on cooperation between West Germany and the developing countries where the illicit substances originate, international coordination of drug law enforcement, border and customs control, and internal law enforcement. It also provides for programming in drug abuse prevention and treatment and continued research into the effects of drug use. Footnotes are included.