Berlin, 03/27/2023: The German Cannabis Business Association e.V. (BvCW) has presented a concept with its position paper for „licensed points of sale“ (specialized stores) that contains possible framework conditions for future points of sale of pleasure cannabis. Instead of the current uncontrolled sale without age restriction on the black market, access to licensed points of sale should be subject to a minimum age, social concepts, educational offers and youth protection measures should become mandatory, controlled online trade – similar to what is already the case with medical cannabis – and the communication of product information should be made possible. In addition, the BvCW is in favor of cannabis also being allowed to be consumed in the catering trade – in compliance with current non-smoker protection laws, e.g. via food and drink.

The managing director of the BvCW, Jürgen Neumeyer makes this clear: „We want clear rules in a controlled market with effective sanction structures in the event of non-compliance. These rules should be designed as uniformly as possible throughout Germany.“

Dirk Heitepriem, departmental coordinator for stimulant regulation at the BvCW, adds, „Licenses for points of sale should be issued in unlimited numbers and license fees should not exceed the costs of administration.“

The position paper „Licensed points of sale (specialty stores)“ can be found here.

Other cannabis industry documents on the regulation discussion of recreational cannabis:
ELEMENTE Vol. 28: Position Paper on Quality Requirements for Pleasure Cannabis
ELEMENTE Vol. 27: Position paper on home cultivation of cannabis as a stimulant
ELEMENTE Vol. 26: Position Paper Track & Trace
ELEMENTE Vol. 25: Synopsis of association position papers
ELEMENTE Vol. 24: Position Paper on Supply Chains and Production Conditions
ELEMENTE Vol. 23: Position Paper on Prevention & Risk Minimization
ELEMENTE Vol. 22: Cannabis Regulation – Collection of mistakes and lessons learned from other countries
ELEMENTE Vol. 20: Key issues paper on stimulant regulation – Towards a German cannabis agenda

An overview of the ELEMENTE series of publications can be found here.