Berlin/Rosenheim, 2021-08-13: The German discount retailer Lidl recently added 21 cannabis-related products to its assortment, emphasizing that they were free from THC and CBD, thus entirely legal and incapable of producing any intoxicating effects. However, according to a report by AZ München, police in Rosenheim, Bavaria, used this as a pretext to raid the store and confiscate the hemp products. In response, Lidl removed the items from its shelves. It remains unclear whether this measure was applied nationwide. Lidl confirmed the incident to the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW).

The cultivation of industrial hemp has been legal in Germany since 04/16/1996, and the legal framework has not changed since. “It’s a positive sign that a major discount chain is embracing hemp-based foods,” said Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte, Vice President and Head of the BvCW’s Department for Industrial Hemp & Food. “But after 25 years of legality, we’re now seeing increasing inspections and repressive actions against food providers selling harmless hemp products. This shows that police and prosecutors are interpreting existing laws more restrictively than necessary wasting taxpayer money and harming local businesses.”

Roersch van der Hoogte added: “Some BvCW members have also been affected by such actions. These measures reflect an outdated prohibitionist mindset.”

Jürgen Neumeyer, BvCW Managing Director, stated: “The approach taken by several regional law enforcement agencies is disproportionate and unnecessary. It clearly demonstrates the need for legislative clarification. Our position is clear: industrial hemp must be removed from the Narcotics Act. Fortunately, the federal election is just around the corner!”

Hemp has been used as a food source for thousands of years. After a period of strict prohibition, the German legislature reauthorized EU-certified industrial hemp, opening the door to the legal production of hemp-based food products. This legal status was reaffirmed in March 2021 by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in case 6 StR 240/20.

BvCW Position Paper “Hemp as a Renewable Resource” – Department for Industrial Hemp & Food: Click here

Cannabis Industry Election Questions for Political Parties, including those on hemp as a food product: Click here. Party responses will be published soon.