Proposed Amendments to the Cannabis Act (CanG) Considered Unconstitutional

Proposed Amendments to the Cannabis Act (CanG) Considered Unconstitutional

A series of proposed amendments to the Cannabis Act (CanG) which would further constrain cultivation associations could be brought in before July 1st. According to a neutral assessment from law firm Witzel Erb Backu & Partner, these amendments may be in violation of the German constitution.

The proposed amendments are to be discussed this week, with the first reading due to take place on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 00:45am which will be broadcast live. After a 30-minute debate, they will be referred to the lead health committee for further discussion. 

In the days and weeks leading up to the crucial German Federal Council (Bundesrat) vote on the Cannabis Act (CanG), which took place on 22 March 2024, there was widespread apprehension that the result would be the convening of a Mediation Committee. The Mediation Committee procedure would have delayed the new legislation by at least several months, and in a worst-case scenario would have ended the proposed legislation completely.