Cannabis policies and regulations should be informed by science, rather than driven by political propaganda or special interests. That is true for every part of the world, including in Germany, where a coalition of leading scientists is calling on the nation’s government to approve cannabis research projects.

Lawmakers in Germany enacted the nation’s historic legalization law in April 2024. While the landmark policy change has improved Germany’s cannabis industry and personal freedoms in many ways, progress on the scientific research side of the equation is still lagging to a large degree. That was recently called out by the coalition of scientists in an open letter addressed to the federal government and the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

“Despite the accompanying EKOCAN research, Germany lacks a reliable database on the use of cannabis. Research projects pursuant to Section 2 Paragraph 4 of the Cannabis Act are legally permissible and crucial for still unresolved questions regarding youth and health protection, the illegal market, and consumer behavior. The undersigned scientists therefore call on the Federal Government and the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) to quickly approve the current applications in order to enable an evidence-based drug policy.” the letter states (translated from German to English).

“We, the scientists researching cannabis, see an urgent need for action. The access channels established under the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG) are insufficient to create a relevant database on the societal and thus scientific challenges associated with using cannabis as a recreational drug.” the letter continues. “Relevant scientific questions continue to be ignored despite current efforts such as the accompanying research project EKOCAN. Scientifically supported research projects pursuant to Section 2 Paragraph 4 of the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG) can remedy this situation by finally generating the urgently needed, comprehensive database.”

The open letter was signed by the following German scientists and medical professionals:

• Prof. Dr. Karin Bammann – Institut für Public Health und Pflegeforschung, Universität Bremen
• Prof. Dr. Gundula Barsch – Hochschule Merseburg
• Dr. med. Dipl.-Chem. Konrad F. Cimander – Schwerpunktpraxis Cannabis-Medizin, Suchtmedizin
• Dr. Knud Gastmeier – Facharzt für Anästhesiologie, Zusatzbezeichnung: Palliativmedizin, Palliativ-Care-Team „PCT Potsdam Mittelmarkt“
• Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen
• Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap – Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE), Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Dr. Sebastian Marincolo – Publizist
• Dr. Stefan Meyer – Chemiker, Stv. Präsident Branchenverband Cannabiswirtschaft e.V. (BvCW)
• Prof. Dr. Kirsten R. Müller-Vahl – Fachärztin für Psychiatrie und Neurologie Klinik für Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Professor Dr. jur. Stephan Quensel
• Rüdiger Schmolke (MA Pol. / MPH) – Vorstandsmitglied Akzept e.V.
• Prof. Dr. Henning Schmidt-Semisch – Institut für Public Health und Pflegeforschung, Universität Bremen
• Dr. Fabian Pitter Steinmetz – Regulatorischer Toxikologe, Delphic HSE & Schildower Kreis
• Prof. Dr. Stöver, Heino – Sozialwissenschaftlicher Suchtforscher
• Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Ulrichs – Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institut für Agrar- und Gartenbauwissenschaften, Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Prof. Dr. Bernd Werse – Professor für Soziale Arbeit, Sozialwissenschaftliche Suchtforschung, Leiter des Instituts für Suchtforschung (ISFF), Frankfurt UAS

A major premise of Germany’s adult-use legalization model is to boost public health outcomes by transitioning recreational consumers away from products sourced from the unregulated market to a combination of regulated products and home cultivation. Without proper research and the publishing of collected data, there’s virtually no way to know how effective the nation’s legalization model is proving to be.

“The federal government has committed to an evaluation of the Cannabis Act in its current coalition agreement. This requires a sound empirical basis. Projects pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph 4 of the Cannabis Act (so-called “research clause”) are necessary to close significant gaps. We, the undersigned scientists, are concerned that not a single scientific non-medical research project on cannabis has been approved so far – despite the fact that numerous universities, cities, and project networks are ready, and comprehensive applications with study plans have been submitted to the responsible authority, the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). Instead, political and administrative uncertainties seem to be causing scientifically conceived projects to stall.” the coalition writes.

“As scientists, we therefore appeal to the Federal Government and subordinate authorities to review and approve research applications pursuant to Section 2 (4) of the Narcotics Act (KCanG) as quickly as possible in order to avoid unnecessarily delaying scientific progress.” the coalition also writes. “The planned research projects not only create a constitutionally protected space for evidence-based knowledge acquisition, but also make crucial contributions to clarifying key societal issues surrounding cannabis – which are often discussed ideologically.”

“The research potential goes far beyond the analysis of consumption behavior. It provides, in particular, insights for youth and health protection, crime and addiction prevention, the assessment of social and economic impacts, as well as the development of effective and legally sound regulatory models. We also need to scientifically understand how legal structures work – together with authorities and municipalities. Well-founded analyses and practice-oriented accompanying research are essential for effective and responsible regulation in the future. Legal value creation is key to effectively displacing the illegal market and simultaneously creating social, health, and economic added value.” the letter continues.

The German coalition poses a series of important questions that need to be answered through approved scientific research projects:

• What effects do research projects have on child protection, prevention, and harm reduction?
• What impact do pilot projects have on crime trends and the illegal market?
• What regional and national economic effects can be demonstrated – e.g., on tax revenues, legal costs, or healthcare?
• What standards for quality, counseling, and education can be developed?

“Germany must not leave the question of how responsible regulation can work unanswered – and should investigate it scientifically. Other countries such as the Netherlands and Switzerland show that scientific research projects can provide valuable insights for informed regulation. Anyone who wants a rational, evidence-based drug policy must enable research – not prevent it. Otherwise, Germany risks falling behind scientifically.” the coalition points out.

Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot research projects are operating in several jurisdictions in the Netherlands and Switzerland, with no major issues being reported. Meanwhile, important data and valuable insights are being gained in those European nations, and that, in turn, is helping lawmakers and regulators.

“We are ready. Our concepts are in place. Please give science the space it needs.” the open letter to Germany’s government concludes.