German Cannabis Business Assoc
2026-05-23 | Federal Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck (CDU) supports pilot projects for the legal sale of cannabis, according to RND. He emphasized that the reality of five million consumers in Germany cannot be ignored. He considers a mere reversal of legalization without looking at practical realities to be ineffective. However, Streeck ties his approval to strict conditions: distribution should only take place for persons over 25 years of age, in limited quantities of around five grams, and under scientific supervision. He strictly rejects advertising or commercial expansion.
The background to his proposal is the observation that medical cannabis was currently being massively misused for recreational consumption via online platforms. In order to end this “dangerous mixed market,” Streeck calls for a clear separation between medicine and intoxicants. He therefore supports plans by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), who intends to make prescriptions more difficult and introduce a mail-order ban. At the same time, Streeck advocates simplifying the rules for cultivation associations in order to prevent avoidance behavior, while calling for stricter limits for personal possession and public consumption. In addition, according to Ärzteblatt, Streeck supported the introduction of a school subject called “health literacy” in order to anchor prevention and education within the education system. Regarding cannabis partial legalization, Streeck expressed concern and identified a significant weakening of youth protection.
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Quote of the week Burkhard Blienert: Create framework conditions for legal access to cannabis “We actually need further questions and reports. How can we seriously address the key questions as a society as to whether what we are doing is meaningful at all. Namely continuing to fuel a black market that exists if it is not regulated. Fueling organized crime in other areas as well by not regulating it. And leaving society alone with the consequences. For me, these are the starting points that the EKOCAN report cannot provide either. That is why it is necessary to draw the right conclusions from this. Namely, to create a framework condition that enables people to actually gain access to cannabis under legal conditions without exposing themselves to a black market, exposing themselves to health risks, etc.”Burkhard Blienert, advisor to the BPC, former Federal Drug Commissioner and former Member of the Bundestag (SPD), at the ICBC on the future of cannabis policy. |
