Berlin, 10/26/2022: Federal Health Minister Karl-Lauterbach (SPD) today presented the German government’s key points for the upcoming regulation of cannabis as a stimulant.

“Today is a good day to advance health and youth protection in dealing with cannabis. The German cannabis business is grateful that the federal government is moving quickly and accurately to legalize cannabis and thus push back the illegal market,” says Dirk Heitepriem, Department Coordinator for Recreational Cannabis Regulation and Vice President of the Cannabis Business Association e.V. (BvCW).

“The complete removal of cannabis from the BtMG is welcomed by the cannabis economy as a constructive proposal. For the BvCW, in addition to the regulation of stimulants, it is also important to have a reliable legal framework for medical cannabis and industrial hemp products, incl. products with non-intoxicating cannabinoids such as CBD,” says Jürgen Neumeyer, managing director of the BvCW. To this end, the cannabis economy has already published a number of proposals. 

The BvCW is pleased that several points have already been taken up, such as taxation on THC content, the sensible re-evaluation of the entire cannabis plant outside the Narcotics Act and the early scientific evaluation of success.

“Presumably, the entire production chain of stimulant cannabis must take place in Germany. For this, we as the cannabis economy are in the starting blocks, but we need reliable framework conditions for investment decisions and preparations. We are looking forward to the further, practicable structuring and are available to the federal government and the legislator as a contact partner for this. In order to enable sufficient production volumes at an early stage, open-air cultivation, which is particularly advantageous from an ecological point of view, should also be made possible,” Jürgen Neumeyer continued.

The key points paper contains various test orders, e.g. in the areas of edibles & beverages (“edibles”), licensing conditions, gastronomy, online trade & THC upper limits in adolescence. These will now be intensively discussed in the committees of the BvCW in order to offer further advice from the field for the design of the upcoming legislation. 

The BvCW welcomes the German government’s proposed reassessment of cannabis policy in Europe and internationally. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said at the press conference that the current reform project could provide an impetus for drug policy in Europe.

AOn Friday at 11:00 a.m., BvCW Vice President Dirk Heitepriem will speak in more detail about the key points in a webinar. 

The official key points paper of the German government can be found: here

BvCW publications on the regulatory discussion:
ELEMENTE Vol. 27: Position paper on home cultivation of cannabis as a recreational product
ELEMENTE Vol. 26: Position paper on Track & Trace
ELEMENTE Vol. 25: Synopsis of association positions
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