According to the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW), the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has published a draft industrial hemp bill that would modernize policies pertaining to the cultivation and handling of industrial hemp in Germany.
“The aim of the planned Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act (NLG) is to eliminate legal uncertainties and create new fields of activity in the industrial hemp sector. The draft deletes the intoxication clause (“abuse clause”) and allows the indoor cultivation of industrial hemp. This is intended to promote sustainable raw materials and support climate protection. However, the regulation excludes the consumption of cannabis products for intoxication purposes.” BvCW stated in an email this week (translated from German to English).
“The plan is intended to provide greater legal certainty and more fields of activity for the industrial hemp sector. Cannabis products intended for consumption for intoxicating purposes, so-called edibles, will not be permitted under the Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act.” the measure states (translated from German to English).
“The plan will in particular remove the so-called abuse clause and eliminate the associated legal uncertainty when dealing with industrial hemp. In addition, the indoor cultivation of industrial hemp will be permitted as a new field of activity.” the measure also states.
The Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act also points out that “there are no alternatives to the plan, because agricultural subsidies such as direct payments from the European Union for areas on which industrial hemp is grown have not led to the hoped-for increase in the area under cultivation in Germany.”
