Bill on medicinal cannabis advances in German Parliament amid technical criticisms

A bill proposing changes to the legal framework of medicinal cannabis in Germany has entered a decisive phase of debate in the Bundestag (the lower house of the German Parliament) as experts warn about potential challenges in implementing the text.

Chamber starts technical examination of the bill

According to the Business Of Cannabis website, the bill aims to modify the Cannabis Act (CanG) and, in particular, the rules governing the prescription and distribution of cannabis for medicinal purposes, was first read in the plenary on December 18, 2025. 
The proposal now moves to the Health Committee, which has scheduled a hearing with 22 experts for January 14, 2026, a stage considered critical for defining the final content of the legislation. 

According to the report published by the portal, the current version of the text includes, among other measures, the requirement for in-person consultations for medicinal cannabis prescriptions issued by doctors in Germany. 

The government's stated intention is to address the significant increase in product imports, which reportedly grew from about 19 tons to 80 tons in the first half of 2025, and the use of telemedicine platforms to issue prescriptions without personal contact between doctor and patient. 

Expert criticisms and implementation challenges

Experts consulted in the context of the bill's preliminary hearing indicate that the proposal presents regulatory