The Global Cannabis Community Loses A Legend
The International Cannabis Business Conference team posts this article with a heavy heart. The global cannabis community lost a giant this month with the passing of Jürgen Neumeyer. Mr. Neumeyer has been a part of the International Cannabis Business Conference family for many years, and he will be dearly missed by everyone who was blessed to know him.
Below is a message sent out by the German Cannabis Business Association (BvCW) commemorating the life and accomplishments of Jürgen Neumeyer. He was truly a legend:
Our co-founder and managing director Jürgen Neumeyer died unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, during a family visit to his hometown. At the age of 56, he left behind a comprehensive life’s work. He was able to realize his greatest political goal in life, the decriminalization of cannabis, during his lifetime.
For decades, Jürgen had dedicated a large part of his life to the vision that cannabis users in Germany would no longer be criminalized. In various roles in politics and business, he did not lose sight of this goal and was able to celebrate an important milestone on April 1, 2024. The cannabis law would look different today without Jürgen’s tireless work. But not all of his goals have been achieved yet – be it improvements in the area of industrial hemp or the creation of a legal market for recreational cannabis.
His drug policy career began in the 1990s with the Federal Association of Jusos, followed by a career as an employee for various members of the German Bundestag, publicist and networker. As the founding managing director of the “ Netzwerk Berlin” he was committed to the legalization of cannabis, among other things, and published several books on the subject. In addition to his editorial work for the magazine “ Berliner Republik”, he was also active in its management. He was also a co-founder of the think tank “ Das Progressive Zentrum eV”, as well as the non-partisan association “ Walkkreis eV”, which was firmly anchored in the Berlin government district with a political pub of the same name. His passion for cannabis policy led him to head political communications for the German Hemp Association (DHV) for several years. Jürgen recognized early on that an independent interest group was needed. He was the driving force behind the founding of an association for the German cannabis industry and was managing director of the industry association Cannabiswirtschaft e.V. from 2019 until his death. V. (BvCW) and CS Cannabis Service GmbH.
Our association, which represents all sectors of the industry (industrial hemp, medicinal cannabis & stimulants as well as technology, trade & services), grew to over 100 members within 5 years under his management, published over 40 specialist publications, many statements and press releases, and organized parliamentary meetings and specialist events. As a trade association representing all specialist areas of the cannabis industry, we became the largest of its kind in Europe. With all our commitment, we made significant contributions to the creation of the Cannabis Act, the abolition of the Narcotics Act status and the urgently awaited abolition of the intoxication clause with the Industrial Hemp Liberalization Act.
Jürgen Neumeyer had set himself and the association many other tasks, such as setting up the cannabis industry directory and the cannabis specialist publishing house, which are still in their infancy, a cannabis roadshow and the long-term goal of a “House of the Cannabis Industry” in Berlin. The focus was always on the current political goals, such as the model projects for cannabis (“Pillar 2”), but also many other construction projects such as hemp as a building material and the promotion of renewable raw materials.
With his death, we have not only lost a talented manager, friend and networker, but also an empathetic and authentic fellow human being who knew how to lighten up any professional and private conversation with his cheerful nature. He was also notorious for his extensive knowledge of winemaking and beer brewing, as well as his passion as a DJ. He was greatly respected and valued by everyone for his unique style.