According to Politico, details of Germany’s current cannabis legalization plan were leaked on October 19 by the RND (RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland) newspaper group. The draft contains a proposal to remove the criminalization of possession and sales, and to allow cannabis to be sold at licensed shops or pharmacies.

The reform approach is still in the works since June was when German officials led by Karl Lauterbach (Health Minister) announced they were planning to pursue reform. The current draft states that sales up to 20g would be legal for anyone aged 18 or older. This would apply to adults 21 and over, and adults between 18 and 21 years old. While residents would be permitted to have two plants of cannabis at home, it would not be legal for them to advertise their consumption.

Initial opinions about this draft are that it is too restrictive, according to a member of the Free Democratic Party. Kristine Lütke. “Key issues paper on #cannabis legalization from the @BMG_Bundit is unnecessaryly restricting! #THC upper limit, possession limit of 20g & stricter regulation up to 21 years will drive consumers to the #black market – a catastrophe for youth, health & consumer protection,” Lütke wrote on social media.

Likewise, Dr. Kirsten Kappert-Gonther, the Alliance 90/The Greens deputy chairwoman, voiced her concern over how these restrictions could lead to an increase in black market sales. “What is known so far about key points #legalization #cannabis is too restrictive! Youth and health protection must make the #legal marketplace more appealing than the “black market”. The #THCO cap does not contribute to this,” Kappert-Gonther wrote on Twitter.

Similar viewpoints have also surfaced. Simone Borchardt from the German Budestag Head, Nursing, has provided RND via a statement. “It seems that the federal government wants to legalize cannabis as soon as possible and completely forgets about the protection of children and young people,” Borchardt said. “Instead of relying on effective education and prevention, Lauterbach gets lost in a tangle of distance rules and upper and lower limits of THC levels for certain age groups.”

According to the German Health Ministry, Politico that the government has “not yet agreed a common proposal for cannabis reform.” Changes are expected in the near future.

According to Burkhard Blienert, the German Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues Burkhard Blienert, German officials made public their plans to legalize marijuana in June when they organized hearings. “We are starting the preparatory phase of legislation,” Burkhard said. “Being able to finally announce this is a special, gratifying moment for me personally. Like many others, I have been working for years to ensure that we in Germany finally stop criminalizing cannabis users and start a modern and health-oriented cannabis policy.”

Blienert and other representatives from the Health Ministry visited Northern California to tour dispensaries. Key players in the cannabis industryOaksterdam Chancellor Dale Sky Jones; Robert Raich (cannabis lawyer), Ananda Strategy founder Hirsh Jain and SC Labs president and cofounder Josh Wurzer.

According to a recent report by BDSA, the value of global cannabis could reach $57 billion in 2026. The report includes examples of U.S. cannabis industry growth and mentions possible legislation that could change the balance in the rest of the world. “Though mature legal cannabis markets in the U.S. saw sales soften in 2022, the cannabis market is still forecast to see topline growth in 2022, driven by strong sales in new and emerging markets, such as the populous states of New Jersey and New York,” BDSA CEO Roy Bingham said. “The U.S. will continue to dominate global sales over the next few years, but we see potential from emerging global markets such as Germany and Mexico.”