German Cannabis Business Association
2024-12-11 | The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), led by Minister Cem Özdemir (The Greens), has issued an ordinance regulating the responsibilities for model project applications. This clears the way for applications to be submitted for scientific pilot projects for the legal supply of recreational cannabis to adults.
The German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) is calling on interested universities and companies to submit applications in good time. Details on how to apply can be found on the ministry’s website.
Nationwide, at least 27 municipalities and federal states have expressed their interest in cannabis model projects. The BvCW has published a list of these. In addition to this list, numerous companies and universities are also interested in submitting an application.
“We are very pleased that this important step has been taken. Various research projects will provide us with a new range of knowledge on how to best regulate the recreational cannabis market in the future. This is an important contribution to significantly reducing the black market in the medium to long term,” says Dirk Heitepriem, President of the German Cannabis Industry Association (BvCW).
“No black market dealer asks for ID. Within the framework of these model projects, however, there will be strict age controls – as in the cannabis cultivation associations. Secure sources of supply will guarantee quality and thus exclude the greatest health risks – admixtures and extenders,” adds Michael Greif, Managing Director of the BvCW.
The legal basis for the regulation had already been laid down by the federal government in the Cannabis Act, which came into force on April 1, 2024. In April 2024, the first draft of the Consumer Cannabis Science Competence Ordinance (KCanWV) was sent to the BvCW for comment, and the BvCW statement was issued in May. Since then, many stakeholders from the cannabis sector have been waiting for today’s publication.
You can find the new regulation here. Compared to the previous draft of 03.04.2024, this only contains formal changes, is now abbreviated to “KCanWissZustV” and came into force yesterday, Monday. Applications can now be submitted. The BvCW has compiled a checklist for model project applications.
