After the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won the 2025 federal elections, Germany’s cannabis laws are about face a significant change. The newly elected Chancellor and head of the CDU, Friedrich Merz, has promisd to reverse the previous government’s partial legalization of cannabis. This action will now generate heated discussion.
The road to reversal
Germany has had a partially legalized cannabis system in place since April 2024, permitting citizens to grow up to three plants per person and possess up to 50 grams of cannabis in private (25 grams in public). The law also allowed for the establishment of cannabis clubs for group cultivation, although there have been several delays and administrative challenges in its implementation.
Merz and the CDU, on the other hand, have long opposed the program, claiming that it has resulted in unforeseen repercussions, such as an increase in organized crime and drug-related crimes. Merz repeatedly brought up cases like the supposed gang battle in North Rhine-Westphalia during the election campaign, which involved German and Dutch criminal gangs and was allegedly connected to 300 kg of lost cannabis. During a recent press conference, Merz said, “Cannabis legalization has created a breeding ground for chaos and criminality.” “This cannot be allowed to go on.”
The CDU’s plan of action
Drafting a bill to invalidate the cannabis legalization law was one among the CDU’s first legislative initiatives after assuming office. The proposed law will essentially revert Germany to its pre-2024 legal system by placing stronger restrictions on cannabis cultivation and possession. In order to fight drug-related crime and break up organized crime networks, Merz has also promised to give law enforcement organizations more funding.
Conservative parliamentarians and law enforcement officers, who feel that the partial legalization experiment has failed, have backed the CDU’s position. “The previous policy created a legal gray area that criminals exploited,” said Oliver Huth, state chairman of the German Criminal Investigation Association in North Rhine-Westphalia, who praised the action.
Criticism from cannabis advocats
Civil society organizations, cannabis advocacy groups, and progressive parties have all strongly opposed the CDU’s decision. The reversal seems to be a step backward and disregards the possible advantages of controlled cannabis use. Two of them only are: lowering the criminal market and increasing tax income.
The CDU’s policy change has been strongly criticized by the Green Party in particular. “This decision is based on ideology rather than evidence,” stated Miriam Staudte, the former Lower Saxony Agriculture Minister.
“The CDU is ignoring the fact that bureaucratic inefficiencies, not the policy itself, were largely responsible for the delays in implementing the cannabis clubs.”
The future of cannabis clubs, which had started gaining popularity in some federal states, is now uncertain. Members in Lower Saxony, where the first cannabis club opened in July 2024, are preparing for the new law’s effects. A representative for the Ganderkesee-based “Cannabis Social Club” stated:
“We were just beginning to build a responsible and regulated model for cannabis cultivation.”
Wider consequences
Blocking the legalization of cannabis is part of the CDU’s larger conservative agenda, which aims to uphold law and order and restore traditional values. It also calls into question the future of Germany’s drug policy and how to strike a balance between individual freedoms and governmental regulation.
The discussion around the legalization of cannabis will heat up as the incoming administration proceeds with its agenda. Although the CDU has a clear mandate to carry out its policies, the issue appears to be far from solution. Especially given the rising acceptance of cannabis among younger generations and the possible financial gains from legalization.
With Friedrich Merz keeping his promise to undo the previous government’s partial legalization, the CDU’s triumph in the 2025 federal elections has marked the beginning of a new era for Germany’s cannabis policy. Conservatives and law enforcement authorities have applauded the action, but progressive organizations and cannabis supporters have strongly opposed it.
As the incoming administration moves on with its goals, the debate over legalizing cannabis will likely escalate. Given the growing acceptability of cannabis among younger generations and the potential financial benefits of legalizing, the matter seems far from resolved even if CDU has a strong mandate to implement its plans.
The CDU’s victory in the 2025 federal elections marked the start of a new era for Germany’s cannabis policy, with Friedrich Merz fulfilling his promise to reverse the previous government’s partial legalization. While conservatives and law enforcement officials supported the initiative, progressive groups and cannabis advocates have strongly criticized it.