Yesterday, the Bundestag held its first reading of the proposed amendment to Germany’s medical cannabis law (MedCanG) that has been championed by the nation’s Health Minister Nina Warken. Cannabis advocates inside and outside of Germany’s government have expressed considerable concern, and rightfully so, about how the proposal, as currently written, would harm suffering patients.

Fortunately, members of the SPD parliamentary group have indicated that they will not approve the draft law in its current form. Ms. Carmen Wegge, the legal policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, provided the following answer to a question posed on Abgeordnetenwatch:

“Regarding the draft law from the Ministry of Health, which attributes and criticizes the increase in medical cannabis imports to the growing use of private prescriptions for self-paying patients via online platforms without doctor-patient contact, I can assure you: The SPD parliamentary group will not approve the draft law in its current form. Patients who depend on medical cannabis must continue to be able to rely on dependable, locally accessible, and barrier-free care. The draft law represents an unreasonable burden, particularly for the chronically ill and those with limited mobility.” Ms. Wegge stated in her response (translated from German to English).

That stated position was furthered yesterday by Bundestag member Matthias Mieves (SPD), via comments that he made during yesterday’s proceedings.

“Matthias Mieves, representing the SPD, took to the podium and agreed with the need to prevent potential misuse. At the same time, however, he emphasized that the current draft would also harm seriously ill people who depend on medical cannabis. A solution is needed that, on the one hand, ensures a reliable supply, and on the other hand, prevents misuse.” reported krautinvest in its local reporting (translated from German to English).

“Mieves specifically referred to patients in rural areas without the necessary infrastructure. While the SPD health policy expert also considered a doctor’s consultation necessary, Mieves argued that this could just as easily take place via video consultation in 2025.” krautinvest also reported.

The Green Party in the Bundestag has also recently issued statements, focusing on the lack of regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials being approved in Germany.

“Linda Heitmann , a member of the Health Committee, and her parliamentary group are complaining about a “fatal obstructionist stance” by the government, which is neither approving pilot projects nor pursuing the originally planned law on the so-called second pillar.” reported the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) in its newsletter this week (translated from German to English).

Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials were a key component of the German CanG law that was approved in 2024. Such pilot trials are already operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland with no major issues reported. There is no valid reason why Germany cannot also successfully launch its own pilot trials.