Germany’s new Federal Drug Commissioner, Hendrik Streeck (CDU), has once again placed the country’s cannabis rules under scrutiny. In an interview he argued the law is “not consistent and coherent,” pointing directly to the allowance of three home-grown plants per adult. Under the right conditions, he suggested, such a harvest could amount to up to a kilo – “far too much for personal use.” With the first official evaluation of the Cannabis Act (KCanG) due this fall, his comments are not just about numbers. They are part of a larger political framing battle.
Framing the debate before the evaluation
The first evaluation report of the Cannabis Act is scheduled for October 1, 2025. Whoever defines the narrative now will be better positioned when lawmakers revisit the rules. Streeck’s intervention must be read in this light. By highlighting the “one kilo scenario,” he is shaping public perception ahead of the data.
Meanwhile, the reality looks different: nearly 300 cannabis social clubs have already been licensed, with North Rhine-Westphalia leading the way. That is the new baseline, and it cannot be undone. The political pace, however, remains slow, with many states dragging their feet on approvals – perhaps deliberately waiting for the evaluation as political cover.
Three plants or the medical route?
At the heart of the debate lies a clear tension: it is much easier to restrict home-growing than to limit medical access. Medical cannabis involves patient rights, doctor’s discretion, and a functioning supply chain – all sensitive political terrain. Home-growing, by contrast, has no organized lobby in Germany. This explains why politicians are increasingly framing the three-plant rule as problematic.
The practical question remains blunt: Who seeks out a doctor and becomes a patient, and who simply grows three plants at home? The home-grow rule is politically the easiest target, and symbolically powerful – it is visible in everyday life in a way that medical prescriptions are not. By pushing the “up to a kilo” line, Streeck positions himself to argue for reductions, tighter conditions, or additional bureaucracy once the evaluation delivers its first numbers.
What comes next
The months ahead will determine which indicators dominate the evaluation debate: road safety statistics, psychosis diagnoses, black market volumes, or youth consumption patterns. In parallel, the Warken proposal to amend Germany’s medical cannabis law is advancing, with potential implications for mail-order services and telemedicine access.
The bottom line is clear: this fall will be about who controls the narrative. If the idea of “a kilo per balcony” sticks in the public imagination, restrictions on home-growing become likely. For social clubs, entrepreneurs, and pharmacies, the best preparation is transparency – clean numbers on members, quantities distributed, and prevention measures. Whoever can show credibility and compliance will stand strongest once the evaluation sparks the next political round.
