Firm letter to German government: ‘Better enforcement needed’

Bedrocan believes that the widespread abuse of medicinal cannabis for recreational purposes must be curbed in Germany. The originally Dutch cannabis company is a co-signatory of a letter that calls for better enforcement, among other things. The letter is addressed to the German government, members of the Bundestag, political parties and medical professionals.

The letter states that commercial activities that damage the reputation of the serious use of cannabis as a medicine must be inhibited. This refers to the German Telemedicine websites where doctors make a diagnosis and prescribe cannabis online. It is generally assumed that many of these prescriptions are given to pseudo-patients and that the cannabis is actually used for recreational purposes.

The signatories state that they consider it important that ‘all providers comply with the applicable laws and professional regulations. Loopholes in the law, such as the use of foreign doctors who do not fall under the German medical associations, must be removed.’

The letter continues: ‘Prescriptions without a doctor’s consultation, based solely on online questionnaires, are in themselves incompatible with German professional law, but must also be clearly prohibited by law.’

Grey area

Bedrocan CEO Jaap Erkelens previously responded to the grey area that has emerged in Germany, since cannabis is no longer prohibited, but not yet available for recreational use. Social clubs that are supposed to meet this need are struggling to get off the ground, so recreational users are turning to the medicinal version of cannabis. This cannabis is available at the pharmacy on prescription only. In Germany pseudo-patients can easily obtain a private prescription provided by an online doctor for ailments such as migraines and anxiety disorders. In a special edition of the German Focus magazine and the British The Economist, Erkelens states that “a handful of telemedicine providers are discrediting medicinal cannabis” and that he is surprised “that the German authorities are not taking consistent action against this”.

Cannabis for recreational use has been permitted in Germany since April 2024, but is actually not or hardly available.