Tag: Germany

Cannabis Normal! Conference Cannabis Normal! Conference

Attend The Cannabis Normal! Conference In Berlin Next Month

Written by Johnny Green on May 27, 2022. Posted in Archives, Business, Policy, Science.

Germany will never become the first country to legalize cannabis for adult use. That designation will forever go to Uruguay. However, legalization in Germany will ultimately prove to be the biggest cannabis prohibition domino to fall when historians look back on the global cannabis reform movement years from now.

Legalization in Germany is going to usher in a new era for cannabis in Europe and the rest of the planet. Germany’s economy is larger than any other economy on earth with the exception of the United States, China, and Japan. The United States is not nearly as close as Germany when it comes to implementing legalization, and China and Japan remain two of the worst places on earth for cannabis policy.

With news recently surfacing that adult-use legalization will be sped up in Germany according to the nation’s Health Minister, and potential budgetary ramifications if that doesn’t happen, reform is closer than ever. When legalization inevitably happens in Germany, it will be truly historic and will speed up reform efforts everywhere else around the globe.

It is extremely important for cannabis advocates and members of the industry to recognize the efforts of those that have helped bring cannabis reform efforts to this point in Germany, and no organization deserves more recognition than the German Cannabis Association.

The German Cannabis Association (DHV) is a professional cannabis advocacy group led by private legalization activists. Their tireless efforts over the course of many years have made a tremendous impact in Germany and have directly contributed to Germany’s current reform momentum.

DHV was originally founded in May 2002, and per its website, DHV “does not serve personal enrichment, but to make progress in hemp politics.” As DHV also points out on its website, it serves as “a counterbalance to corporate interests and fundamentally opposing forces, such as the police unions.” The DHV team does outstanding work, is extremely knowledgeable, and they are on the frontlines of cannabis reform efforts in Germany on a daily basis.

The German Cannabis Association (DHV) is organizing the third edition of the Cannabis Normal! Conference from June 17th to 19th, 2022 in the Alte Münze in Berlin. The conference’s program will largely involve exploring and discussing the intimate details of the upcoming cannabis legalization measure that is expected to be unveiled in Germany as early as this summer.

In addition to discussing the nuanced details of cannabis policy reform in Germany, hemp will also be a major topic at the event with discussions led by well-known guests from science and politics including drug policy spokesman Carmen Wegge (SPD), Dr. Kirsten Kappert-Gonther (Greens), Kristina Lütke (FDP) and Ates Gürpinar (Left).

It is vital that consumers have a voice in the legalization process in Germany, and fortunately, DHV has developed eleven sessions to cover every important facet of what Germany’s cannabis legalization model should include. It’s a great way to get educated about German legalization efforts and what to expect in the coming months. The information presented will be extremely timely, with upcoming hearings in the Bundestag expected to begin in the near future.

Below are sessions taking place at the upcoming Cannabis Normal! Conference:

More information about the schedule and program of the Cannabis Normal! Go to: cannabisnormal.de.

For press inquiries and accreditations please contact Simon.Kraushaar@hanfverband.de

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Will Luxembourg Beat Germany To Adult-Use Legalization?

Written by Johnny Green on May 20, 2022. Posted in Archives, Policy.

Luxembourg’s Minister of Justice Sam Tanson announced in the Chamber of Deputies this week that a draft cannabis legalization bill is on its way, with the Council of Government expected to get its first look at the draft next month.

Even though the draft bill has yet to be introduced, some components of it were made public along with the announcement that the draft bill was looming.

The measure, which if approved would serve as the foundation of Luxembourg’s legalization model, is largely based on citizens’ right to home cultivation, although it seems to be unclear what the plant limit would be.

Furthermore, possession of 3 grams of cannabis or less would no longer result in a criminal penalty, and according to the previously cited local media coverage, ‘fines will be decreased.’ Is it really legalization if there is any fine, no matter how large or small the fine might be?

Delays In Luxembourg

For a time, it appeared that Luxembourg would become the first country in Europe to pass an adult-use legalization measure. However, that designation was ceded to Malta late last year when lawmakers there approved an adult-use legalization bill.

Unlike the only two countries where cannabis is currently legal for adult use (Uruguay and Canada) Malta’s legalization model does not include provisions for legal purchases through storefronts, pharmacies, delivery services, etc.

Rather, Malta’s legalization model is largely non-commercial, relying on private cannabis clubs and home cultivation by which consumers can acquire cannabis.

What Luxembourg’s final legalization model will look like is something that we will all have to wait for. However, if the details that are floating around right now ultimately prove to be the basis of the country’s legalization model, legalization in Luxembourg will prove to be less significant than if the country implemented a legalization model that is more in line with what is being pursued in Germany.

Legalization Effort’s Current Status In Germany

Germany recently announced that it would be speeding up its own timeline for legalization to as early as this summer, and the Bundestag’s budget committee recently issued an ultimatum to the nation’s Health Ministry to submit a passable recreational cannabis bill by the end of the summer or face budgetary consequences.

For a time it seemed unclear whether legalization in Germany would entail home cultivation, however, members of Germany’s current coalition government have indicated in recent weeks that home cultivation is a necessary component of a viable legalization measure.

Whether Luxembourg beats Germany to adult-use legalization or not is largely moot in many ways being that legalization in Germany appears to be just as imminent as in Luxembourg, both countries are expected to legalize home cultivation, and Germany’s legalization model will likely prove to be far more robust compared to Luxembourg’s.

All of that, of course, doesn’t even touch on the potential market size difference between the two nations. Luxembourg has a population of roughly 632,000 people. Germany has a population of roughly 83 million people. Germany also experiences over 10 times the level of tourism that Luxembourg does.

Even if Luxembourg allowed legal sales, which it doesn’t appear that it will, the country’s industry would pale in comparison to Germany’s.

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German Health Minister Given Cannabis Legalization Deadline By Budget Committee

Written by Marguerite Arnold on May 16, 2022. Posted in Policy.

In a unique twist in the annals of cannabis legalization lore, the new head of the German Health Ministry was given an ultimatum by the Bundestag’s budget committee to submit a passable recreational cannabis bill by the end of the summer

The German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has been given a unique incentive to submit legislation that can be passed by the Bundestag by the end of the year to legalize a recreational cannabis market. Do it or have your PR budget withheld.

For his part, Lauterbach almost simultaneously issued statements to the press that he was going to speed up the process.

This means that Germany will have, all things being equal, a fully recreational cannabis market by the end of this year – legislatively at least. How long a gap between the bill’s passage and implementation is anyone’s guess. However, given the track record of legalizing jurisdictions so far, it is not inconceivable that while decriminalization and allowances for record expungement may take place more or less immediately, the actual market start may be delayed for 12-24 months. See Colorado and Canada, if not Holland.

What Could Be in The Cards

There are many question marks now on the table about what could happen next. One thing is for certain. While the Bundestag might, for convenience purposes, leave the cultivation and distribution question alone, this will in turn lead to further legal action. Nobody is happy about the cultivation bid, much less the monopoly distribution bid issued by BfArM. Keeping that as the status quo for the first source of recreational cannabis in Germany is unlikely. Even with the giveaway of open season on dispensaries (although how these should be awarded is another variable here).

Regardless, here are some of the issues that have been bandied about. Home cultivation is apparently on the table, in a win for many activists, but whether that differs for patients and recreational users is another discussion. So is the necessity for patients to have a grow license of their own.

Expect to see a heavy presence of law enforcement and heavy penalties for driving under the influence. Also expect to see at least a discussion of online shops and delivery services, even if only allowed by individual dispensaries.

It is going to be a very interesting 8 months as Germany takes its place as the second large, western economy to now proceed down the path of full and final recreational cannabis reform.

Will Home Cultivation Be Part Of German Cannabis Legalization?

Written by Marguerite Arnold on May 9, 2022. Posted in Policy.

Government leaders have been quoted recently saying that home grow would be a necessary component of recreational reform

Last week, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced that German recreational reform should be prioritized this summer. However, that is not all that is afoot in Germany. Within the last week, there have also been statements across the political landscape of the ruling “Traffic Light” Coalition that home-grow will also be included in this discussion.

Citing reasons that ranged from inevitability to an awareness that patients who still cannot convince their health insurers to reimburse them will almost have to be able to grow their own, voices from the SDP, the FDP and the Greens all discussed their reasons for allowing Germans to not only buy their weed but grow it too.

Now Come the Details

Given the reliability with which German politics tick (and of course, the impossibility of predicting anything in this industry) it is, however, highly unlikely that both a Health Minister and other members of the ruling coalition would make such statements with nothing to back them up.

However, what details are actually included in this first tranche of legalization legislation is still very unsure. There is also a lot of ground to cover.

Here are the biggest outstanding issues:

It is widely rumored that the government will allow specially licensed dispensary shops to sell recreational cannabis. In Germany, you can find wine, beer, and spirits in almost every grocery store. That is unlikely to happen with cannabis for the foreseeable future. However, do not expect to see a suggestion that cannabis will be sold in government-run stores – as Canada initially tried to implement (and then pulled back after widespread opposition). How such licenses will be made available is a big question. Will there be an open season or some kind of lottery system run by the states or municipalities?
How these new stores will be stocked is another question. Will there be additional cultivation licenses that can be applied for or will the existing medical license holders be given a monopoly on growing all high THC cannabis in the country?
Home grow. If this is allowed, will it be permitted by the number of plants, licenses, or both?
Edibles and extracts. This is going to be hard-fought territory and there is almost no precedent for the same either in Europe or much of North America.

For now, there is a great deal of speculation and even maneuvering on the chessboard. However, it is clear that the tide is turning in Germany. The question now is how far, and how fast?

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German Health Minister Gets Behind Expediting Cannabis Reform

Written by Marguerite Arnold on May 5, 2022. Posted in Policy.

Karl Lauterbach makes public statement about prioritizing recreational cannabis reform in Germany this summer

In a surprise announcement, the German Health Minister, SPD-affiliated Karl Lauterbach, has now thrown his weight behind a stepped-up schedule for cannabis legalization. Namely, he wants to put this on the summer legislative agenda rather than pushing it back to this fall (or later) as had been widely rumored.

As quoted in Handesblatt, Lauterbach said that he has “changed his mind about this in the past two years…I’ve always been an opponent of cannabis legalization, but I revised my opinion about a year ago.” He now believes that the dangers of the status quo outweigh the dangers of recreational reform.

Lauterbach’s statements about cannabis reform were part of his call for stepped-up action on several pressing issues facing the German healthcare system. Namely the need for a greater contribution from German citizens to address the huge shortfall the statutory health insurers are facing as well as the digitalization of the healthcare infrastructure.

His comments also come at a time when there is growing momentum from all coalition parties to not kick the cannabis legalization discussion can down the road anymore. During the first quarter of 2022, despite making cannabis legalization part of the election platform that put the Traffic Light coalition into power, the only thing emanating out of Berlin for months was calls for delay. The excuse was both the lingering Pandemic and then the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Even more interesting is that Lauterbach’s comments come at a time when all three coalition partners have begun to publicly support the idea of home-grow as part of the initial reform law. This too had been widely rumored to have been dropped from discussion.

Drivers of Reform

There are several reasons that are likely behind this interesting about-face by leading figures in the new government to suddenly prioritize cannabis reform this year.

The first is undoubtedly the fact that the medical efficacy of cannabis cannot be denied anymore – meaning that the beleaguered health insurance companies will be increasingly under the gun to reform their policies about coverage – and pay for coverage of more people. That has been one of the most problematic aspects of the limited medical reform compromise made into law in 2017. Insurers have routinely turned down about 40% of applicants – forcing those who can to sue for individual compensation and those who can’t into the black market, increasing the risk of prosecution for merely being chronically ill.

The second is that with full recreational reform, patients who have been turned down for coverage – or cannot find a doctor in the first place will, at least no longer be criminalized by taking matters into their own hands.

Further, if patients are finally allowed to grow their own, additional pressure will be taken off a healthcare system that has been horrifically slow in the acceptance of medical cannabis in the first place.

As a result, it may be, after months of delay and diffusion, that there is finally a push for cannabis reform that may even take place this summer – at least on a legislative level. That is good news indeed.

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Why Is the German Government Delaying Cannabis Reform?

Written by Johnny Green on May 3, 2022. Posted in Archives, Policy.

Promises are promises. So why are there repeated indications that the new coalition is putting the issue on the backburner?

Six months ago, the new German governing coalition made recreational cannabis reform one of their election planks. After the election, in November, they also made promises that reform would progress this year.

It is now May – and so far, the only message out of Berlin is that this entire issue is low priority and further will be pushed back for other “more important” discussions. So far this has included the war with Ukraine as well as lingering Covid complications.

However, with Covid clearly receding as masks come off in public life, there is no more excuse from this angle. Further, the war may pose some large problems – notably how Germany is going to get its oil and gas and whether to send weapons to the war zone, but this should not distract from other big-ticket political issues now cooling on the backburner.

Here is a list of reasons why cannabis reform should be a top priority for the government this summer.

Recession and Inflation

There are repeated warnings and indicators that economies including the great German machine, will suffer from a twin blow of supply chain problems (in part caused by the war and partly by Covid), plus inflation that is affecting almost every aspect of life. There is no denying that this industry creates both jobs and tax revenue that the German government really needs.

A Green New Deal

This lofty ideal is stalling everywhere, yet cannabis reform, including in Europe, is a great way to jump-start this discussion. Not only is phytoremediation (usually with hemp crops) now starting to be a “thing” but organic continues to be a priority for consumers – even with inflation. This industry ticks both of these boxes.

The Medical Revolution is Stalled

Earlier this year, the largest insurers made the news by saying that the “cannabis craze” is over. This is not true, and by a long shot. About 40% of patients who should qualify for coverage are being denied it – and that impacts sales as well as funding for more trials. Beyond this, patients are consumers too – and they need both choices and affordable options – especially if insurance companies are slow to approve reimbursements. Not to mention protection from law enforcement.

The Police Are Busting Hemp Sellers

While it is a tragic reality, the police have stepped up efforts to prosecute even legitimate hemp sellers. There are approximately 200 criminal cases now pending against CBD specialty stores across the country and the pace does not seem to be tapering off. Legalization would stop this kind of police activity, for the benefit of taxpayers. Of course, the prosecution of patients would also stop.

It is time for a change. No more delay. Legalization Now!

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International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin 2022 Preview

Written by Johnny Green on April 27, 2022. Posted in Business.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is coming back to Berlin, Germany on July 19-20, 2022. Offering world-class industry networking opportunities, the Berlin International Cannabis Business Conference is the largest B2B cannabis trade event in Europe and is also the longest-running cannabis B2B conference on the continent. The conference will once again feature a unique blend of cannabis policy, advocacy, industry, and networking.

Germany is home to the largest economy in the European Union and is poised to serve as the cannabis industry capital of Europe going forward. The cannabis industry is evolving rapidly in Germany, with the country’s medical cannabis program increasing in size with every passing day.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is the leading B2B cannabis event series on earth. Events have been held in the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland. Additional locations in other countries are being identified and will be announced in the future. Over 5,000 attendees and 350 companies sponsors and exhibitors are expected at the Berlin International Cannabis Business B2B Conference in 2022.

International Cannabis Business Conference events are attended by leading policymakers, executives, and entrepreneurs from all over the world, with over 80 countries being represented at previous events. The event series is the best way for innovators and inventors to get their products or services in front of the top influencers and decision-makers in the cannabis space, as well as for investors to network with aspiring entrepreneurs.

The conference series consistently features world-class speakers that cannabis entrepreneurs, advocates, and consumers from all backgrounds can learn from and be entertained by. At the conclusion of the 2022 B2B event, attendees will be able to enjoy one of the International Cannabis Business Conference’s famous after-parties. This year’s B2B event after-party in Berlin will feature the multi-Grammy award-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage. After a conference of learning from true-cannabis experts and networking with cannabis enthusiasts from around the globe, the after-party featuring Morgan Heritage is the perfect way to unwind.

A cannabis industry revolution is sweeping Europe, and Germany is at the center of it. If you’re serious about succeeding in the cannabis industry, check out the International Cannabis Business Conference’s flagship program in Berlin in July. Leading cannabis entrepreneurs and policymakers from around the world will be in attendance and the networking and educational opportunities will be unparalleled.

You can secure tickets now and take advantage of the early bird pricing discount (expires June 22nd). Below is a preview video of what attendees can expect in Berlin:

Germany Drug Commissioner Czar Burkhard Blienert Germany Drug Commissioner Czar Burkhard Blienert

German Commissioner Provides Insight Into Legalization Approach

Written by Johnny Green on March 16, 2022. Posted in Politics.

International cannabis policy and industry observers have had their eyes set on Germany ever since the current governing coalition expressed a desire to legalize cannabis for adult use at the national level. Often referred to as ‘the traffic light coalition,’ the current governing coalition in Germany made the announcement shortly after the last election.

Germany is already home to the largest medical cannabis industry in Europe, and given that it has one of the largest economies on planet earth, adult-use legalization coupled with a regulated national sales system would be an extremely big deal. So far Uruguay, Canada, and Malta have legalized cannabis for adult use, however, none of those countries have the same legalization model.

Malta still prohibits adult-use sales, although it will eventually allow private clubs to exist, and Uruguay has historically limited sales to residents via pharmacies and clubs. Canada is the only country that has legalized cannabis sales to all adults via a robust buffet of options – storefronts, delivery, ordering online, etc.

Germany is planning on allowing adult-use sales nationwide via a range of options, and once that happens it will likely prove to be bigger for global cannabis efforts than the three current legal nations combined. Canada, Uruguay, and Malta have a combined population of roughly 42 million people. Compare that to Germany which has a population that is nearly double that figure.

Burkhard Blienert, who we were proud to have as a speaker at our last event in Berlin, has served as Germany’s ‘drug czar’ since January. Blienert recently participated in an interview with Stern in which he discussed, among other things, the effort to legalize cannabis in Germany. To read the full interview click this link. Below are some interesting excerpts (translated to English):

Stern: They started with the promise of a “progressive drug policy”. What does that mean for you?

Blienert: This is clearly the realization that in the field of cannabis, criminal law is not a tool that helps. That’s not how we reach consumers. That’s why we need a different social perspective on how we deal with it.

Stern: Education without criminal law – aren’t you playing down drug use?

Blienert: I believe that society’s job is to protect people. When it comes to cannabis, we are very specific in the coalition agreement. The point is not to allow people to obtain products that are illegal and harmful to their health on the black market, but to empower people and create regulated access to safe products for them.

Stern: What’s the latest on cannabis legalization?

Blienert: A lot of people are looking forward to that.

Stern: That’s exactly why I’m asking.

Blienert: I’ll have to disappoint everyone at the moment. We are in the early stages where we are debating and discussing the structures for a process. We need a law that lasts. The way there is not a short-distance run. This is a complex and complicated project involving many ministries. And I would like us to involve the public, associations and science. The goal is legalization in this legislative period. We’ll do it.

Stern: Why is this taking so long? Actually, the coalition parties were in agreement.

Blienert: It’s really not a short story, it’s a novel that we’re writing right now and it needs good preparation, research, a good structure, so that afterwards the ending will be good.

Key German Hemp Case Moves Forward In Court

Written by Marguerite Arnold on February 16, 2022. Posted in Business, Politics.

The right to sell (and market) hemp is moving forward in a significant legal klage that is long overdue

Germany might be the most important (and largest) cannabis market in Europe at the moment, but nothing here has been gained without legal fights. Beyond that, while the medical market is developing here steadily if still too slowly and in fits and starts, the Germans are still behind the most cutting-edge case law on the continent on the hemp front.

Namely, after the Kanavape case in France last year, the right to sell hemp products including hemp tea and even smokable flower has arrived in France, Luxembourg, Austria, and Belgium, but aus Deutschland? Still not so much.

The last court decision on the issue was inconclusive.

Now, that right is being taken to court in Saxony’s highest administrative legal arena.

The case is a biggie – and given movements in Germany on the legislative side – namely the statements of the traffic light coalition to normalize the entire industry – is likely to solve the issue nationally.

Removing Cannabis from The German Narcotics Act

As with just about everything in this industry, this is a critical matter of timing. It is not just hemp that needs to be removed from the Narcotics Act. A compromise on the THC side of the equation is also in the offing with the entire legalization discussion.

While this hemp case is not going to solve that, it is very likely, given both decisions at the EU level and most recently in France, that this legal clash will start to set definitive case law in Germany.

If not, it is also very likely, given the lawyers as the cannabis firms involved, that this challenge will not be defeated.

Change Is Afoot in The Entire German Cannabis Market

Germany is clearly going to see fairly comprehensive cannabis reform this year and on multiple fronts.

What is interesting about this case, however, is not only its timing, but the fact that any decision on hemp legally, will then have to be enshrined in the recreational cannabis law now floating around the Bundestag.

It could not be better timed, and of course, is way overdue.

Be sure to book your tickets to International Cannabis Business Conference events this year in Barcelona, Berlin and Zurich!