Early draft of German cannabis legalization plan leaked

According to Politico, on October 19, details of Germany’s current plan to legalize cannabis were leaked by newspaper group RND (RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland). The draft currently includes a plan to decriminalize the sale and possession of cannabis and allow cannabis to be sold in licensed stores and dispensaries.

This approach to reform has been pending since German officials, led by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, announced their intentions back in June. Under the current draft, the sale of up to 20 grams would be legal for anyone aged 18 and over, which would contain a maximum of 15% THC for adults over the age of 21 and a maximum of 10% for adults between the ages of 18 and 21. Residents would be allowed to grow two cannabis plants at home, but advertising for its use would be banned.

Early opinions on this draft consider it too restrictive, as FDP member Kristine Lütke describes. “Key points paper on #cannabislegalization by @BMG_Bund unnecessarily restricts! #THC upper limit, 20g possession limit & stricter regulation up to 21 years will drive consumers to the #black market – a catastrophe for youth, health & consumer protection,” Lütke wrote on social media.

also dr Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, the deputy leader of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, expressed concern about how these restrictions could lead to a surge in black market sales. “What is known so far about key points #legalization #cannabis is too restrictive! For youth and health protection, the #legal market must be more attractive than the #black market. The #THCO cap does not contribute to this,” Kappert-Gonther wrote on Twitter.

Similar opinions have emerged, for example from German Budestag nursing chief Simone Borchardt, who told RND in a statement. “It seems that the federal government wants to legalize cannabis as soon as possible and completely forgets about the protection of children and young people,” said Borchardt. “Instead of relying on effective education and prevention, Lauterbach got lost in a tangle of distance rules and upper and lower limits of the THC content for certain age groups.”

The federal health ministry told Politico the government “has not yet agreed on a joint proposal for cannabis reform.” Changes are expected in the near future.

According to Germany’s Addiction and Drugs Commissioner Burkhard Blienert, German officials announced back in June their efforts to move closer to legalization by organizing hearings. “We are starting the preparatory phase of legislation,” said Burkhard. “To finally be able to 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 criminalizing cannabis users and start a modern and health-oriented cannabis policy.”

Blienert visited Northern California in September along with many other Department of Health officials to tour dispensaries and speak with key players in the cannabis space, including Oaksterdam Chancellor Dale Sky Jones, cannabis attorney Robert Raich, Ananda Strategy founder Hirsh Jain, and SC Labs President and Co-Founder Josh Wurzer.

A recent report by the BDSA showed that the global cannabis industry could be worth as much as $57 billion by 2026. While reviewing many examples of growth in the US, he also mentions how eventual legislation in other countries could lead to a shift in dominance distribution around the world. “Although sales in the mature U.S. legal cannabis markets have declined in 2022, the cannabis market is still forecast for sales growth in 2022, driven by strong sales in new and emerging markets such as the populous states of New Jersey and New York . said BDSA CEO Roy Bingham. “The US will continue to dominate global sales for the next few years, but we see potential in emerging global markets like Germany and Mexico.”