Berlin, 2021-01-19: As the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), we welcome the joint proposal submitted by the parliamentary groups of The Left Party (DIE LINKE) and Alliance 90/The Greens to promote the potential of industrial hemp. The initiative is led by Members of Parliament Dr. Kirsten Tackmann (DIE LINKE) and Harald Ebner (Alliance 90/The Greens).

The motion contains key points and demands, including:

1. Removal of industrial hemp from the Narcotics Act (BtMG) – This is a correct step, as industrial hemp is primarily an agricultural raw material and not a narcotic. Attempts to extract narcotic substances from hemp would be economically unreasonable.
2. Raising the THC threshold for industrial hemp back to 0.6% THC – This would allow for a necessary expansion of cultivable varieties. It would also significantly enhance the possibilities for specialized breeding (e.g., for fiber hemp & phytopharmaceuticals). In the long term, BvCW advocates aligning the THC limit in Germany and Europe with international standards, aiming for a threshold of at least 1% THC for industrial hemp.
3. Products with naturally occurring CBD content should not be considered “novel foods” – As an industry association, we support this demand and have recently proposed the development of clear threshold values.
4. Reduction of unnecessary bureaucratic and practical barriers in the hemp industry – These include outdated reporting requirements for growing EU-certified hemp varieties and mandatory destruction of entire harvests due to minor weather- or climate-related exceedances of the 0.2% THC limit.
5. Establishment of meaningful research funding for industrial hemp – This should be addressed in the next federal budget negotiations. As a rapidly renewable raw material, effective soil cleaner, and valuable catch crop, industrial hemp should be promoted, particularly with regard to climate protection. Research should focus on varietal development, cultivation techniques, processing (including machinery development), and should receive public funding (economic and research grants).

BvCW Vice President Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte commented: “The proposal makes ecological and economic sense and is absolutely necessary. Its implementation could be an important milestone for promoting sustainability, reducing bureaucracy, and establishing clear and transparent rules in the industrial hemp value chain.”

Regarding the political impact of the proposal, Jürgen Neumeyer, Managing Director of the BvCW, added: “The initiative by The Left Party and Alliance 90/The Greens is encouraging for two reasons: First, it puts crucial improvements for the industrial hemp sector back on the political agenda. Second, the clear positions of both parties provide a foundation for upcoming coalition negotiations in the fall. This could benefit the entire cannabis industry.”

The full proposal by the two parliamentary groups is available here.
The BvCW’s official position on CBD can be found here.

A press photo of BvCW Vice President Marijn Roersch van der Hoogte is available here.
A press photo of BvCW Managing Director Jürgen Neumeyer is available here.