Germany: Die Linke calls for full legalization of cannabis

The parliamentary group Die Linke has tabled a motion to the Bundestag calling for an in-depth reform of current legislation and the full, controlled and consistent legalization of cannabis in Germany.

Adopted in spring 2024, The Cannabis Act (CanG) opened the way for private cultivation and the creation of cultivation associations, often called Cannabis Social Clubs. It also revised the framework for medical cannabis. But according to the interim evaluation report cited in the motion (21/3912), the results are deemed highly inadequate.

In 2024, the production of crop associations did not even account for 0.1 % of total demand. Administrative and regulatory obstacles hinder or even prevent their normal operation. As a result, without legislative adjustments, these structures will make no significant contribution to the black market reduction.

Legal access still marginal

For Die Linke, The evidence is clear: in many regions, legal supplies are still scarce. Consumers who are unable or unwilling to grow their own crops remain dependent on the illegal market.

The growing demand for medical cannabis reinforces this tension. However, this channel remains strictly limited to medical indications. At the same time, users are demanding products whose quality is guaranteed and whose levels of THC are clearly indicated, and not just for therapeutic purposes.

Faced with this situation, the parliamentary group believes that the current model of partial legalization is incoherent. It calls on the federal government not to take any steps to reverse the partial legalization of recreational use, but rather to close the existing legal loopholes.

The motion supports the authorization of scientific pilot projects to test different models of legal and controlled distribution of cannabis. The current legal framework theoretically allows projects for scientific purposes, but their implementation remains limited. In Switzerland, several pilot projects for non-medical use are already underway to evaluate distribution systems and their acceptability.

In Germany, Die Linke requires authorization from growers' associations as uniform and unbureaucratic as possible on a federal scale. The aim is to avoid the regional disparities and red tape that hamper their development.

The group also calls for the removal of the «vestiges of prohibition policy». This includes the abolition of specific restrictions on consumption and alignment with non-smoker protection rules applicable to tobacco.

Possession, distribution and road safety

Among proposals includes raising the maximum home possession limit to a level deemed realistic for private cultivation of three plants per person. Non-commercial distribution between adults would also be legalized.

Die Linke also requires a redefinition of THC thresholds for road traffic to put an end to what it sees as discrimination between alcohol and cannabis. The rules should be uniform nationwide and focus solely on acute impairment of driving ability linked to consumption, excluding any measures deemed vexatious.

Beyond the national framework, the parliamentary group calls on the federal government to make a commitment at European level to create the legal conditions necessary for a full legalization of cannabis.

Finally, the motion stresses the need to significantly increase funding for prevention, harm reduction and addiction treatment. According to the signatories, these resources have been insufficient for decades.