The CanG law has passed its final hurdle, after the Bundesrat approved the cannabis legalization measure today. "The fight was worth it, legalization of cannabis is coming on Easter Monday!" writes Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on X. "Please use the new opportunity responsibly and help protect children and young people. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the black market today."
Delay avoided
After the Bundestag gave the green light, it was still possible that today's review from the Bundesrat would have caused some challenges. Until today, some representatives from the federal states were considering convening the "Vermittlungsausschuss" (Mediation Committee). This would have provided the opportunity to resolve disagreements about the law. Some topics that caused disagreements are the amnesty policy as well as the traffic regulations (THC limits, etc.). Convening a Mediation Committee would have delayed the law by half a year. However, later today, they decided against it.
Easter Monday
So it is now official that Pillar 1 of the German legalization plan will partially start on April 1st. From that day, adults over 18 will be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use, with the option to cultivate up to three plants at home. Smoking cannabis in many public spaces will also become legal.
From July 1, cannabis will also be available in licensed not-for-profit clubs with no more than 500 members – all of whom would have to be adults. Only club members would be allowed to consume their output.
More information about Pillar 2, the five-year pilot program, is still to follow.
Medical market
Last month, we spoke to Timo Bongartz, Chief Commercial Officer of Cannavigia, who emphasized the legalization's impact on the medical market. "Going forward, cannabis will be descheduled and not be deemed a narcotic anymore. This means that no special narcotic prescriptions need to be used by doctors, making it easier to prescribe medical cannabis," he explained. "Additionally, it can be expected that through the decriminalization, prescribing medical cannabis will also be easier because of destigmatisation."
On top of that, he expects a 'domino effect' to happen across Europe. "Several EU countries are closely eyeing Germany and the progress there. A 'domino effect' can be expected, where Germany is the first domino to fall. Meaning more countries will follow. The first ones are, next to the Netherlands, which is already progressing, the Czech Republic and Malta. Once there is a critical mass of European countries in favor of more progressive cannabis laws, EU law as a whole can also be adjusted to allow free trade of recreational cannabis in the European Union/Schengen region," Timo said.
Removing limitations on domestic cultivation
Dr. Constantin von der Groeben, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Demecan, one of the three licensed cannabis producers in Germany, also shared his view with us last month. He mentioned the impact the domestic growers will notice. "The new German cannabis law is a landmark achievement for Demecan, removing previous limitations on domestic cannabis cultivation and allowing us to fully utilize our production capabilities," he said. "It marks a significant milestone, enabling us to directly interface with pharmacies, choose and cultivate strains based on market demand and medical efficacy, and independently negotiate prices. Freed from the constraints of government off-take agreements only, we can now directly respond to the needs of the market and our patients. This streamlined supply chain is crucial for improving patient outcomes and satisfaction."
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