Berlin. The Federal Health Ministry plans to hold talks within the government on the future of Germany's cannabis law.

Germany's cannabis law under fire as new report sparks government review

"The results are simply clear from our perspective, and that has been made evident today—and on this basis, discussions will now take place," a ministry spokesperson told the dts news agency on Wednesday. The statement follows the release of the second interim report by the Ekocan research project evaluating the Cannabis Consumption Act. When asked why the law was not being scrapped in light of widespread criticism, the spokesperson said the coalition partners would first need to be convinced.

Addressing the specific problems of partial legalization, the spokesperson added that early intervention programs had "dramatically declined." Additionally, THC levels had surged, and imports of medical cannabis had more than sextupled since 2023. "This means the lines between medical and recreational cannabis have blurred. That is a fact, and discussions must be based on this reality."

Earlier, several ministers from the conservative Union bloc had fiercely criticized the cannabis law. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) called the partial legalization of recreational cannabis a "mistake." Meanwhile, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) dismissed the legislation as a "total fiasco." Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) accused the former traffic-light coalition government of having done a "disservice" to addiction prevention efforts for children and adolescents.