Germany has confirmed it will be kicking off a consultation process to prepare for upcoming cannabis legislation change.
In November 2021, Germany’s traffic light coalition made its plans to legalise recreational cannabis official with the publication of its agreement. The coalition, which includes the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and The Greens, agreed to legalise the controlled distribution of cannabis to adults for “pleasure purposes”.
The objective of creating a legal cannabis industry in the country is to move consumers away from the black market, control quality and ensure the protection of minors, as well as to end the criminalisation of cannabis users and focus on health-oriented cannabis policy.
The German Government has confirmed that five hearings are planned throughout the year to discuss the legislative process on the controlled supply of cannabis to adults for recreational purposes, with the first meeting being held on Tuesday, 14 June, 2022 at the Federal Ministry of Health.
The announcement follows comments from Germany’s federal Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, speaking to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, who said the government plans to accelerate a number of projects that have been stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic – including cannabis legislation.
The Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs, Burkhard Blienert, commented: “From now on we are breaking new ground on the subject of cannabis.”
“The time has come: we are starting the preparatory phase of legislation. Being able to finally announce this is a special, gratifying moment for me personally.
“Like many others, I have been working for years to ensure that we in Germany finally stop criminalising cannabis users and start a modern and health-oriented cannabis policy.
“The hearings are intended to discuss which measures can be used to ensure the best protection for young people, health and consumers in the event of implementation. Because one thing is clear: we want to protect children and young people in particular from possible risks.”
More than 200 leading experts from the areas of addiction medicine and help, law and business as well as representatives of the federal states, municipalities, federal ministries and federal authorities will attend to exchange views. The government has confirmed that international experts will also have their say.
The five planned hearings will cover the topics of: health and consumer protection; the protection of minors and prevention; supply chains, ecological and economic issues; criminal liability, control measures and licensing to accompany the introduction of the controlled sale of cannabis for recreational purposes; and, international experiences.
Germany is already the largest market in Europe for medical cannabis and its legalisation is set to light up the European cannabis market according to Mike Sassano, CEO of Somai Pharmaceuticals, who wrote in an article for Cannabis Wealth that “most countries around Europe will be following the German lead.”
Sassano wrote: “Smart money is already positioned toward the potential that Europe will unlock multiple country markets as it works its way to its rightful position as the second-largest continental cannabis market.”
Implementation of the legislation changes is not expected until 2023.
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