Last month, 20 cannabis companies from several countries sent an open letter to the European Commission. The translation of the letter, spotted by CannabisIndustrie, can be read below.
The letter was signed, among others, by Hanfverband, one of the German pro-legalization associations, but also by companies active in the medical cannabis market in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Czech Republic or Switzerland. No French or Dutch company signed the letter.
Together with other representatives of the #cannabisindustry & #associationswe signed an #OpenLetter to the members of the #EuropeanCommission. #cannabislegalisierung #legalization #cannabis pic.twitter.com/TrxA8Gwzj1
— Sanity Group (@SanityGroupEU) November 17, 2022
Letter to the European Commission
Towards a “New European Drugs Market” – Fostering Member States’ reform efforts to develop effective drug policies.
Dear Members of the European Commission,
We, representatives of the European cannabis industry and associations, take note of the fact that internationally a progressive approach to the use of cannabis for adult use has prevailed for several years. In the European Union, a growing number of Member States, including Malta, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, are beginning to reform their old prohibitive drug policies in a way that is geared towards real effectiveness, which makes it possible to put in place a new political framework for Cannabis covering all situations of use.
More recently, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany presented a document on the key points by which it intends to transform the market for cannabis for adult use, previously illegal, into a regulated framework. These reforms in no way contradict the global objectives of improving health protection. We would therefore like the European Commission to carry out a thorough and timely assessment of the capacities of European drug policy within the framework of the global drug control conventions. By sharing the German interpretation of these conventions, the Commission will enable Member States to pursue forward-looking drug policies to achieve the intentions of our global drug control conventions much more effectively than previous attempts to general prohibition.
For a long time, the cultivation, distribution and consumption of cannabis have been sought to be curtailed by prohibitive and repressive drug policies. As a result, the consumption, availability and THC content of cannabis on the unregulated illicit market has increased, while different contaminations continue to pose an unpredictable threat to the health of EU citizens. Finally, the failure of drug policies in recent decades has allowed organized crime to generate billions of dollars in revenue year after year.
Germany’s proposal aims to effectively protect youth and health and tackles the immediate weaknesses of the old prohibition paradigm, such as the expansion of the illicit market and the spread of contaminated substances. The aim of this approach is therefore in line with the objective of the 1961 and 1988 UN Conventions against trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and the objectives of the EU Drugs Strategy for 2021-2025.
Protecting health and strengthening health culture are at the heart of the concerns of the European Union and its Member States. We therefore see the current German approach as an important signal to move towards an urgent reform of European drug policy. In the perspective of such a “European New Drug Deal”, the balance between public health, law enforcement and the market economy is crucial to play a leading role at the international level.
In this global effort to build a new consensus, the Commission can count on the support of all stakeholders. We, the various European cannabis associations and industries, are constantly working to increase research and knowledge sharing within the epistemic community. We see ourselves as a resource for evidence-based policy making and are an ideal partner for consulting and evaluating topics. We are convinced that the European Commission will support all efforts aimed at reinforcing a paradigm shift in drug policy.
Please accept, Madam, Sir, the expression of my distinguished sentiments,
- Tom Broockmann (Managing Director), ADREXpharma GmbH, Germany
- Tej Virk (Managing Director and CEO), Akanda Corp, UK
- Lars Erik Råen (CEO), Balancial AS, Denmark
- Dr. rer. dr. David Surjo (CCDO), Canify AG, Germany
- Stefan Jacker (COO), CanPharma GmbH, Germany
- loana Freise (Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs), Cansativa GmbH, Germany
- Jan Simon (CEO), CZ Pharma sro, Czech Republic, Germany
- Dr Constantin von der Groeben (Managing Director), DEMECAN GmbH, Germany
- Thomas Schatton (CEO), Four 20 Pharma GmbH, Germany
- Oliver Schultz (CCO), Grünhorn, Germany
- Šárka Betke (General Manager) High Five Group sro, Czech Republic
- Richard Balla (CEO), IMC adjupharm GmbH, Germany
- Michal Drdák (Commercial Manager), Lagom Pharmatech sro, Czech Republic
- Jonathan Lubosch-Haenisch (CEO), iuvo Therapeutics GmbH, Germany
- Georg Wurth (CEO), Deutsche Hanfverband, Germany
- dr. med. Jaschar Kermany (CEO), Kineo Medical GmbH, Germany
- Nick Pateras (Managing Director), Materia Global, UK
- Antonia Menzel (Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Spokesperson) Sanity Group GmbH, Germany
- Luc Richner (co-founder and CEO), Vigia AG, Switzerland
- Börge Diessel (Managing Director), WEECO Pharma GmbH, Germany
