The 2025 federal election has reshuffled the political landscape. Since May, a coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD has been in power – and the Cannabis Act is under scrutiny. The coalition agreement stipulated an open-ended evaluation. The first interim report (EKOCAN) has been available since October 2025. The result: no sudden increase in consumption, no urgent need for action. Nevertheless, the parties' positions remain very different. We show how the most important parties stand on the legalization of cannabis – from proponents to skeptics to clear opponents. An overview for anyone who wants to know where things are headed.
The Proponents: Greens and Left Party
Greens: Consistently continue legalization
The Greens are among the strongest proponents of a modern cannabis policy in Germany. As part of the former "Ampel" coalition, they actively shaped and significantly advanced the Cannabis Act. Their position is clear: the existing law should not only be maintained but also further developed.
Specifically, the Greens advocate for the sale of cannabis in licensed specialist shops, a step that could not be implemented during the "Ampel" period. In their view, controlled distribution is the most effective lever for sustainably pushing back the black market. Prevention and youth protection should be strengthened through education rather than bans.
In the current legislative period, the Greens are in opposition. They critically monitor the ongoing evaluation of the Cannabis Act and advocate that scientific findings are not used for politically motivated tightening. The EKOCAN interim report from October 2025 supports their argumentation: no sudden increase in consumption, no urgent need for action – a signal that the Greens interpret as confirmation of their course.
The Left Party: Decriminalization and social justice
The Left Party goes one step further than the Greens on the cannabis issue. The party calls for full legalization with fewer restrictions. Regulated specialist shops, self-cultivation without strict quantity limits, and comprehensive decriminalization of all consumers – that is their line.
Behind this is a socio-political argument. For the Left Party, the criminalization of cannabis is primarily a tool that disproportionately affects socially weaker groups. The party relies on education and prevention instead of prosecution. Already in 2024, they had criticized the then draft law for partial legalization as insufficient.
In its role as an opposition party, the Left Party urges that the results of the evaluation be used for further liberalization steps. Their goal: a drug policy based on reason and respect for adult citizens – not on fear.
The Hesitators: SPD and BSW
SPD: Pragmatic but cautious
As a coalition partner in the "Ampel" government, the SPD initiated the Cannabis Act under Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. It is a project the party stands by – even in the new coalition with the Union. In the coalition negotiations, the SPD ensured that the law would not simply be revoked. An important success.
At the same time, it is striking that the SPD is noticeably more reserved on the topic of cannabis than it was in 2024. The election program spoke of legalization in accordance with European law, but it is not getting specific at the moment. In the coalition agreement, they agreed on the formula of open-ended evaluation – a compromise that leaves room for both sides.
What does that mean? The SPD defends the status quo. However, further development towards specialist shops or model projects is hardly realistic under the current government. The party balances between holding on to its own law and maintaining coalition peace with the Union. The next interim report is expected in April 2026 – it could bring new momentum.
BSW: Skepticism with a socio-political focus
The Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) is the big unknown in cannabis policy. There was no clear commitment to the issue in its 2025 election program. Election questions from the German Hemp Association remained unanswered. While the party in the Bundestag largely supported legalization, a consistent line is lacking.
What is clear is that the BSW rejects the criminalization of consumers. At the same time, the party is skeptical of far-reaching liberalization. There are voices within the BSW that support partial legalization and others that have significant reservations. For those interested in drug policy and reliant on a reliable position, the BSW offers little guidance.
The Skeptics: CDU and CSU
CDU: Demanding the repeal of legalization
In the 2025 election campaign, the CDU clearly announced its intention to abolish the Cannabis Act. The law protects dealers and exposes minors to drug use – this was the argument in their election program. Youth protection and security concerns were at the center.
In governmental reality, things look different. The SPD prevented a direct repeal in the coalition negotiations. Instead, the coalition agreement provides for an open-ended evaluation. CDU leader Friedrich Merz admitted that cannabis is no longer a priority for the CDU. A sign that priorities lie elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the CDU remains critical. Health Minister Tino Sorge (CDU) has repeatedly described legalization as a dangerous misguided path in the past. How the party will react to the next evaluation report in April 2026 remains to be seen. A tightening of individual regulations is conceivable – a complete reversal, however, is politically hardly feasible.
CSU: Clear rejection from Bavaria
Within the Union, the CSU is the loudest voice against cannabis. Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann called, shortly before the conclusion of the coalition negotiations, to "undo the mistake of the Ampel." Bavaria's Health Minister Judith Gerlach advocated for a rapid and complete repeal.
The CSU argues primarily with health risks for young people and security concerns. It is striking that Bavaria has been blocking the implementation of the law at the state level since the beginning. Permits for cannabis cultivation associations were long delayed and only granted late – while other federal states like NRW or Thuringia were long ahead.
At the grassroots level, a different picture emerges. According to a survey by infratest dimap, even among CDU voters, 46 percent supported full legalization with specialist shops. The CSU leadership, with its hard line, is therefore not necessarily on the same wavelength as its own electorate.
The Opponents: AfD
AfD: Complete reversal as a goal
The AfD clearly rejects cannabis legalization. In its election program, it describes partial legalization as a mistake that should be reversed. The reasoning: cannabis can lead to serious health and psychological damage – especially in young people whose brains are not yet fully developed.
The AfD makes an exception for medical cannabis. Here, it sees scope but demands stricter prescription rules and a clear separation between medical use and recreational consumption. In the Bundestag, the AfD parliamentary group submitted a motion for procedural equal treatment of medicinal cannabis with other medicines – including personal doctor-patient contact and benefit assessment.
Politically, the AfD's influence on cannabis legislation is limited. All other parties rule out cooperation on joint legislative projects. A reversal of the Cannabis Act would only be possible in the Bundestag with the votes of the AfD – a scenario that the Union avoids for political reasons.
So what does that mean now?
As of February 2026, the Cannabis Act remains in force. Partial legalization is a reality, and a complete repeal is politically hardly feasible. The first EKOCAN interim report has shown that the feared horror scenarios have not materialized – no increase in consumption, no increase among young people, no noticeable health effects.
In April 2026, the next evaluation report will follow, focusing on organized crime. It will re-ignite the political debate. For all those who use hemp products or are interested in the plant, the situation remains stable – but not static. It is worth staying tuned.